Governance stakeholders, including Malawi Law Society (MLS), have asked President Lazarus Chakwera to intervene in ending growing cases of political violence in the country if he is to leave a good legacy.
In a statement yesterday, MLS president Patrick Mpaka said the society had noted with concern the growing cases of political violence and the silence from State authorities, including the President.
He said under the Constitution, State authorities are the duty-bearers entrusted with ensuring peaceful enjoyment of all rights by all citizens and residents in the country.
Said Mpaka: “We make a direct call on President Lazarus Chakwera by virtue of Section 88 of the Constitution to see to upholding of peace and unity and immediate end of any form of emerging political violence across the country.”
The MLS call comes against a background of several incidences of violence.
In February this year, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters were attacked at Mbowe Service Station in Lilongwe as they were about to start their parade while few months later Alliance for Democracy officials and supporters were also on the receiving end in Mponela, Dowa and earlier this month, DPP members were harassed at an ad hoc roadblock mounted by unidentified civilians at Msundwe in Lilongwe.
The President also had his motorcade stoned in Chikwawa by people believed to have been protesting against the removal of DPP flags by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) youth while Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu was also attacked in Ndirande Township, Blantyre last weekend.
The latest incidents in Lilongwe came on the bag of planned demonstrations, which have been thwarted twice in as many weeks by panga-wielding masked men in full view of Malawi Police Service officers.
When the armed masked men first hit at protesters, top leaders in the country’s domestic security hierarchy—including the Commander-in-Chief, Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma and Inspector General of Police Merlyn Yolamu—did not condemn the act. It was only former presidents Bakili Muluzi, Joyce Banda and Peter Mutharika who issued a joint statement demanding that perpetrators be brought to book.
To date, only those suspected to have stoned the President’s motorcade in Chikwawa were arrested.
Private practice lawyer Khumbo Soko, writing on Facebook, said it is critical that people’s right to free speech be respected.
He said: “Allow people their right to freely express themselves. It is their right. Just like you [Chakwera and other opposition leaders] did between 2019 and 2020. Mwaiwala kale? [have you already forgotten?].”
In a separate interview, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Gift Trapence said it was sad that police could, on their watch, allow people to threaten demonstrators.
He said: “The Minister of Homeland Security and Police IG should resign. This is pointing to a failed State where the rule of law is not working. How can you allow such impunity to continue under the watch of the police?”
National Advocacy Platform leader Benedicto Kondowe also said the situation raises serious concerns about the right to peaceful assembly and potential misuse of administrative authority.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said he was yet to get a report on yesterday’s violent acts.
Presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda referred The Nation to Kunkuyu, the official government spokesperson, who said government condemns all forms of political violence.
He said President Chakwera preaches peace and rule of law where the right to hold diverse political views is respected.
Said Kunkuyu: “The President has never been absent and he will continue addressing the nation on all matters affecting us as Malawians. The State has no intention of infringing on people’s rights.”
Twice in the past fortnight, the Lilongwe District Council has asked organisers of protests to shift the dates citing commitments by police to other engagements.
