Independent Complaints Commission ICC has lamented funding gaps, saying they continue to cripple the commission’s operations, with only K1.5 billion allocated in the current fiscal year against a budget of K3.2 billion.
Speaking during a media engagement in Blantyre, Head of Investigation Department at ICC, and Grant Kankhulungo, says they are dependent on government subversion adding they also experienced a budget cut of nearly K100 million in the last financial year.
Kankhulungo has revealed that currently, the most common complaints are concerning the police officers who have been abusing their powers adding, the ICC concluded a number of cases and some police officers have been warned, dismissed or demoted following recommendations.
“So far we have received 562 cases out of which 324 have been investigated and 268 are whose investigations have been completed and 22 cases recommended for prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)” said Kankhulungo.
He said the commission currently operates under the 2010 Police Act which limits its role to making recommendations to police authorities, adding that the proposed law review would grant the commission prosecutorial powers.
“We would like to push for the improved mandate to enable the ICC prosecute cases” added Kankhulungo.
The Independent Complaints Commission was established in 2021 to promote accountability, transparency and public confidence in policing through the independent investigation of complaints against police officers.
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