Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) says it will interview Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) officials in a probe into the brutal attack on protesters in Lilongwe last month.
The commission started its investigations this week and has interviewed some of the protesters while the security agencies will be interviewed in two weeks.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, MHRC director of civil and political rights Peter Chisi noted that the violent attacks on protesters raised human rights concerns and there were also allegations that security agencies did not intervene to help people when they were being assaulted.
He said: “Our investigation is focusing on the rights which were violated, including the right to human dignity, to property and to demonstrate with others peacefully.
“We will also be zeroing in on the actions the police and the MDF took that day and after.”
Chisi said the investigation is not based on any complaint but, the commission’s own volition to take further action on the matter.
On June 26 2025, panga-wielding assailants descended on journalists and protesters from Citizens for Credible Elections.
Human rights activist Sylvester Namiwa led the protesters who gathered at Lilongwe Community Centre ground to demand the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi.
The assault happened in full view of police officers and MDF soldiers deployed to provide security during the demonstrations.
The Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) launched its investigation into the conduct of the police on the same day.
ICC spokesperson Happy Njalam’mano said yesterday the commission has interviewed several people on the issue and the probe is still going on.
Meanwhile, Namiwa and Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence, in separate interviews, yesterday commended MHRC for launching its own investigations.
Trapence said he expects MHRC to provide recommendations for future management of demonstrations and highlight specific violations committed during the protests.
“The report should also give hints on the perpetrators of violence and push the police to take action on the matter by arresting the culprits,” he said.
The attack on protesters happened while President Lazarus Chakwera was in Nigeria. He ordered ministries of Defence and Homeland Security to submit reports on the incidents.
Last week, State House said the President had summoned and met the two ministers.
