NEWS | Human Rights | By Edwin Mauluka

The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has launched training for police officers, prosecutors and prison warders aimed at strengthening the protection of detainees’ rights and eliminating torture in Malawi’s criminal justice system.

Speaking at the opening of the training in Blantyre on Tuesday, MHRC Commissioner Tereza Ndanga said law enforcement and prison officers must understand and uphold the rights of people in detention throughout the justice process, from arrest to sentencing.

“This orientation is designed to give both prison and police officers a deeper understanding of their legal and ethical obligations towards people in detention,” Ndanga said.

“We are covering key principles such as the right to a fair trial, the prohibition of torture, and proper conditions of detention.”

The training follows a series of MHRC monitoring exercises and investigations that exposed serious human rights violations in detention facilities.

An MHRC investigation report on torture and adult malnutrition at Mikuyu I Prison, published in August 2025, revealed widespread abuse at the facility. The inquiry, conducted in January 2025, confirmed the death of one inmate from traumatic injuries and found allegations that five other inmates had been tortured to death and secretly buried.

The Commission also found that prison staff had allowed inmates to assault fellow prisoners, more than 100 inmates were suffering from severe malnutrition, and the conditions had contributed to a mental health crisis within the prison.

Ndanga said the Commission’s investigations had also identified shortcomings in police investigations, with some officers resorting to torture because they lacked modern suspect interviewing skills.

“The Malawi Human Rights Commission has been conducting annual monitoring exercises across the country. We identified a number of challenges and gaps in how people are handled in police cells and prisons. We have also conducted several investigations that pointed to the need for change,” she said.

She said the training was developed following discussions with the leadership of the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Prison Service to address the identified gaps and strengthen collaboration in preventing torture.

Malawi Prison Service Legal Officer Vincent Silungwe, one of the facilitators, said the programme would improve officers’ understanding of international human rights standards governing the treatment of detainees.

“We are covering the rights of detainees under the Bangkok Rules and the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. We are also looking at the duties and responsibilities of police and prison officers so they can better protect the rights of people in detention,” he said.

Head of Prosecution for the Malawi Police Service, Prescott Zuze Mwayiulipo, acknowledged that investigators must adopt interviewing methods that do not rely on intimidation or abusive language.

“I acknowledge that sometimes police officers use words that are inappropriate when interviewing detainees. It is our duty to ensure all police officers understand the rights of detainees and refrain from using language that is offensive or degrading,” he said.

The training, supported by Irish Rule of Law International, brings together investigators, prosecutors and prison warders.

Among its recommendations, the MHRC report called on the Malawi Prison Service to introduce mandatory annual human rights refresher training for all prison staff within 12 months. The courses should cover the Mandela Rules, the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and proper complaints handling procedures.

The Commission also recommended that the Malawi Police Service launch a full criminal investigation into the deaths of inmates identified as alleged torture victims and directed the prison service to institute disciplinary proceedings within three months against the former officer in charge of Mikuyu I Prison, under whose watch the violations occurred.

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