Speaking to Zodiak Online Monday, MHRC Spokesperson Kate Kujaliwa however says the Independent Police Complaints Commission is better placed to comment further on the current status of the inquiry.

“MHRC still maintains that the Msundwe rape survivors had their human rights violated. However, considering this is a joint inquiry and deals much with the criminal elements, Independent Police Complaints Commission is better placed to comment,” Kujaliwa said.

The MHRC report revealed that police officers raped 13 women, defiled one girl, and sexually assaulted three under-18 girls on October 8, 2019.

The report cited Msundwe, M’bwatalika, and Mpingu as areas where the abuses occurred.

However, Commissioner for the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Christopher Tukula in a written response says they will issue a press release soon regarding the matter.

Since 2019 to date, the identities of officers that were implicated in the rape scandal are yet to be known.

The officers about 17 in total, are suspected to have raped at least 17 women and girls in Msundwe, Mpingu, and M’bwatalika where they were deployed to quell a political tension there.