Political power play by suspected governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) hoodlums yesterday marred the CCAP Blantyre Synod 150th anniversary celebrations as they assaulted journalists and attacked opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) functionaries.
In an apparent reaction to the ugly scenes that happened on the sidelines of the Thanksgiving Service of Worship marking the end of the three-day Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod 150th Anniversary Celebrations, Synod moderator the Right Reverend Missie Kananji-Spiki condemned the violence.
The CCAP General Assembly Moderator said the church should be a place where congregants feel safe and not a stage for acts of violence.
She urged politicians to keep political violence and confrontations out of the church.
“The church should not be a place where political party cadres should be fighting. Let people attend service of worship and return home peacefully,” said Kananji-Spiki at the ceremony held under the theme ‘Thus far, the Lord has helped us—1 Samuel 7 vs 21’.
During the violence, Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist Kondwani Nyondo sustained an injured eye while NPL photojournalist Francis Chamasowa and Transworld Radio camera person Francis Nkawihe were forced to delete pictures capturing the assault that happened in full view of the police near the entrance to the Blantyre Mission premises.
“They were kicking me for like 10 minutes as I tried to protect myself and my phone,” said Nyondo, whose smartphone was stolen in the process. He was treated as an out-patient after reporting the incident to Blantyre Police Station.
MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila also confirmed that some of the erstwhile governing party’s members were attacked as they escorted the party’s leader and the country’s immediate past president Lazarus Chakwera to the event.
She said the thugs, some of whom were seen masked and clad in dark business suits, damaged several vehicles, including one of MCP director of campaign Moses Kunkuyu.
“I can confirm that we [MCP officials] have been attacked. I am here [in Blantyre], but I did not attend the ceremony. Four vehicles were smashed, including the one I was travelling in,” Kabwila said in an interview.
In the thick of the attack on Chakwera’s convoy, some of the hoodlums were seen pelting the journalists in the vicinity with stones.
welcome Chaponda. | Francis Chamasowa
They also took over control of the main entrance to Blantyre Mission as they searched every vehicle purportedly to check for opposition party members.
But DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba last night distanced the party from the acts of violence and asked police to investigate.
“The DPP has no motivation to target journalists or MCP followers. We believe this incident is the work of insiders within the MCP leadership, who are currently fighting among themselves,” he said.
Minister of Homeland Security-cum-DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito earlier said he was not yet briefed on the incidents.
South West Region Police spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa referred us to Blantyre Police spokesperson Mary Chiponda, whose phone could not be reached.
National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has since condemned the reported attack on Chakwera’s convoy as well as the manhandling and intimidation of journalists.
“These acts represent a grave assault on human dignity, political tolerance, press freedom and the constitutional foundations of our democracy. They must never be normalised, excused or tolerated,” NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and national coordinator Baxton Nkhoma said in a statement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda was the guest of honour, representing President Peter Mutharika.
In his address on behalf of the President who is in South Africa on a private visit, the minister did not comment on the concerns raised by the synod moderator.
Chaponda, a CCAP faithful himself, stuck to his prepared speech and said the President is aware of the suffering that Malawians are going through and that “he [Mutharika] is working around the clock to make sure that the lives of innocent Malawians should be improved”.
He called on the church to pray for economic recovery, urging the faith community to go beyond criticising societal issues through pastoral letters and statements but propose practical solutions.
Chaponda also took time to list shortages that characterised MCP’s tenure from July 2020 to September 2025.
However, murmurs of disapproval from the audience drowned his voice. Further murmurs were heard when the minister assured the gathering that fuel shortages will soon be a thing of the past.
In an interview, CCAP Blantyre Synod general secretary the Reverend Anderson Juma said the church has always been a partner with government of the day.
“When we look at things we put them in context and forward them to government, wherever we want them to correct we advise them and wherever we want them to change we also advise them. So we need together as Malawians to work towards the problems that we are facing. But those that are in government are the first people that should work towards finding solutions to the problems,” he said.
Juma said much as citizens have a role to play in the development of the country, government should not abdicate its responsibility and push back the blame to the citizenry.
Scottish missionaries established the Blantyre Mission in 1876, which gave birth to what is known today as Blantyre City.
The three-day celebration started on Friday with a tour of the historical sites on the Blantyre Mission premises—the home of the historic St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral—commonly known as HHI. On Saturday, the synod held an anniversary march in conjunction with Blantyre City Council in Blantyre central business district before yesterday’s Thanksgiving Service of Worship at the Henry Henderson School of Excellence ground.
Additional reporting by MATHEWS KASANDA, News Analyst
