By Watipaso Mzungu
A retired police officer in the Malawi Police Service, Samie Liwonde, is reportedly facing threats and harassment from both the service as well as the government machinery for his perceived association with the opposition UTM Party.
Liwonde was born on the 27th of September 1980 and joined the service in 2002 was due for retirement on 26th September 2040, but opted to take leave following undue pressure from individuals he described as “well-organized and appeared to have real-time information on my movements, particularly with regard to official trips”.
At the time of his early retirement, Liwonde had served the service for 21 years.
But what forced him to take an early exit from the state security service? Liwonde refused to grant us an interview, but the details of his calamities as quoted as verbatim from the documents filed to the court through his lawyer are as follows:
In March 2024, while on duty, I received an anonymous call inquiring about the vehicle I was using. I reluctantly informed the caller that I was driving a Toyota Belta. To my surprise, the caller sent me three photographs of my Mazda Axela (2010 model) parked in a location, along with the number plate, which indicated my home of origin, and the insurance plate that had my name on it.
The caller revealed that the pictures had been taken by fellow police officers who were discussing my potential involvement in politics. The caller implied that I was being linked to Vice President Saulosi Klaus Chilima, who was in alliance with the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP). He further stated that I was allegedly campaigning against the ruling party and supporting the UTM, where the Vice President was the leader.
4. Escalating Threats:
On 11th May 2024, I visited the police regional office to deliver a file related to a sexual violence case. I drove my Mazda Axela and spent approximately 39 minutes within the regional premises. After I left and had traveled for about 15 kilometers, the same anonymous caller reached out and told me to stop my vehicle. He claimed to have knowledge of my location due to information from his sources within their platform. He instructed me to inspect the front wheels of my car, and upon doing so, I discovered that three nuts had been removed from the left front tire. The caller told me that the removal was orchestrated by operatives within their group, intending to cause an accident. I quickly sourced the necessary parts from local hardware stores and replaced the nuts.
In June 2024, on 15th June, while attending a training on Wildlife Prosecution in Dowa, I received another warning from the same caller. He informed me that operatives had been sent to follow me, and they had attempted to remove the wheel covers of my car. However, they failed to unscrew the tires because I arrived earlier than they had anticipated.
On 23rd June 2024, I was attacked by a group of thugs who assaulted me, resulting in a strained right hand. The assailants accused me of being affiliated with UTM, citing my social media post about the death of the Vice President in a plane crash on 10th June. They threatened that this was not the end of the matter.
On 29th June 2024, my house was stoned by unknown individuals at around 23:00 hours. Fearing for my safety, I fled from my residence and sought refuge at my niece’s home. I returned after two days and learned from my family that the assailants had been looking for me and had threatened my life.
5. Final Threats and Resignation:
On 1st July 2024, I received another call from the same source, warning me that further plans were in progress to deal with me. The caller informed me that my official movements were being closely monitored by fellow police officers who were part of a group loyal to the ruling MCP.
On 4th July 2024, in light of these escalating threats and the growing fear for my life and the safety of my family, I submitted my retirement letter. My retirement was approved, and I was to serve my notice period until 4th October 2024.
6. Post-Retirement Threats:
After my retirement, I initially felt relief from the threats. However, at the end of November 2024, I began receiving renewed threats on my life from individuals in the area where I was residing. These threats have left me with no choice but to flee for my safety.
7. Conclusion:
The continuous threats and harassment I have faced, compounded by the fact that my colleagues within the police service have been involved in this conspiracy, have made it impossible for me to live in peace. These events have left me fearful for my life and the lives of my family members. As a result, I have been forced to take drastic steps to protect myself.
I make this affidavit in order to document the circumstances surrounding my forced resignation and the continued threats to my life, which have left me with no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere.
Officials at the National Police Headquarters are yet to comment on the matter.