Civil society organisations and rights activists have condemned the delay by the police to arrest perpetrators of violence during the June 26 peaceful demonstrations organised by Citizens for Credible Elections led by Sylvester Namiwa.
Two months have passed since Namiwa was manhandled by panga-welding men at Lilongwe Community Centre ground in view of the police and Malawi Defence Force officers.
In an interview, Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka said despite some perpetrators being known, the inaction by the law enforcers was expected because of the “state of partisanship of police today”.
“Unless you get an independent police and sound leadership at the Malawi Police Service, this will continue,” he said.
In a written statement, National Advocacy Platform board chairperson Benedicto Kondowe described the inaction by law enforcers as “alarming”, while citing the attack on Democratic Progressive Party members at Mbowe Service Station in February 2024 as another incident met with inaction.
“This delay is more than bureaucratic sluggishness, it signals a dangerous culture of selective justice and political shielding,” he said.
Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said the lack of action questions authorities’ commitment to uphold justice and protect civic space.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya was not available to comment on the status of investigations
