Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has recommended that parents and guardians of a seven week old child who died at the Mtambalika checkpoint in Mzimba District in June 2023 should consider legal proceedings against the police and the taxi driver for causing delay in presenting the child to hospital.
The child died allegedly following delays by traffic police officers at the checkpoint, who are alleged to have demanded money from the taxi driver as a fine.
Boniface Massa, MHRC’s Commissioner, said this in Lilongwe when the commission disseminated findings of the investigation on circumstances that led to the death of the child.
He said the family is at liberty to take legal actions against the relevant institutions through the courts.
Massa also said the commission, among others, also recommended that the Police’s Independent Complaints Commission should investigate the conduct of its officers who manned Mtambalika checkpoint on the fateful day.
Furthermore, it was also recommended that the Malawi Police Service in collaboration with the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services should enhance awareness of and enforcement of road traffic rules and regulations, with a special focus on taxi drivers.
MHRC is expected to follow up on the recommendations that have been presented within three months from today.
By Margaret Mapando
