The Office of the Ombudsman says it has launched an inquiry into alleged reports that members of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) were recruited illegally by the Malawi Police Service (MPS).

The inquiry follows observation that some youth who claimed to be members of MCP Youth League were left stranded at Lilongwe Police Station last month after being sent back from a police training school due to lack of qualification.

The development also comes as the law enforcement agency is yet to arrest Chipiliro Kaliyopa, a man suspected to have coordinated the recruitment on behalf of the Party.

Speaking to Yoneco FM, the Ombudsman Grace Malera said her office has instituted the investigation amid several complaints she received pertaining to the recruitment.

She said: “We already received that complaint, somebody complained to the office and we also received as a referral from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

“So, even as we were appearing before PAC this morning, this is work that is in the pipelines, the investigations started.”

Malera added that her office will communicate to Malawians the findings when done with the investigation.

“We are actually hopeful that in due course we will have finalise all the investigation in that recruitment process.

“We will demonstrate whether or not those allegations can be substantiated and upon the findings, we will be making the appropriate recommendations as dictated by law,” Malera said.

Kaliyopa who is still on the run according to the Police, recently told journalists in Lilongwe that he only collected K37, 000 from the youths for their transport to Kanjedza Police Training School and other logistics.

Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Shadric Namalomba has asked the Ombudsman to dig deep into the matter for Malawians to know what exactly happened.