President Lazarus Chakwera has appealed to politicians and the nation at large to maintain peace during the 60-day official campaign for the September 6 2025 General Election launched yesterday.
In a televised national address monitored on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television last evening, the President said past experience shows that political violence has negatively affected lives of people and properties.
He said every Malawian or political party has a right to hold a political rally in any part of the country. In this regard, he warned that anyone found blocking others from holding exercising their constitutional right to freedom of assembly should be reported to police.
Said the President: “Violence during the campaign period is against the laws of Malawi. So, when you see someone assaulting others or removing other political parties’ flags, report them to police because they are breaking your rights of conducting peaceful politics.
“Let’s not kill each other because of politics. Let’s love one another because we are all Malawian.”
Speaking during the official launch of campaign period by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in Lilongwe, Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira assured Malawians that police will perform its duties professionally and arrest perpetrators of political violence.
His statement comes about two weeks after panga-wielding thugs manhandled civil rights activist Sylvester Namiwa at Lilongwe Community Centre Ground, tearing off all his clothes in full view of police.
Namiwa was leading demonstration calling for the resignation of MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi for purportedly failing the nation in preparations for the elections.
However, police are yet to bring to book the suspects, in most cases stating that they are “still investigating”.
