Peace Commission dates police on violence

Newly-established Malawi Commission for Peace and Unity has unveiled plans to engage politicial parties and law enforcement agencies, including the police to ensure peace ahead of the September 16 2025 General Elections.

The commission’s chairperson Mary Nkosi, speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday alongside her fellow commissioners, briefed the media on the beginning of their operations following the financing effected this month.

She said the commission has noted lack of awareness on its mandate as well as the incidences of violence held recently.

She said: “As we approach the 2025 General Elections, the commission has also noted a few, but worrying incidences of political violence that may pose a threat to the conduct of peaceful elections.

“While we commend the efforts made by our security agencies in investigating these incidences, we still urge them to give the nation an update on progress made and bring perpetrators to book to avoid recurrence of such incidents.”

The commission’s move comes amid concerns of delayed justice following an attack on some opposition Democratic Progressive Party members who were planning to hold a parade in Lilongwe in February. Police have said they are still investigating.

During the briefing, Nkosi said the commission willcontinue to strengthen the local peace building structures nationwide as one way of preventing electoral violence towards 2025 General Elections, adding that electoral violence thrives on unresolved community level conflicts.

On raising awareness of the commission’s mandate, she said some sections of the society were mistaking it as an option to existing institutions such as the courts, saying they have been receiving cases already handled by courts.

According to the United Nations, which encourages countries to have the peace and unity policies and laws, the peace and unity architecture is an essential tool in democracy.

In March 2022, Parliament passed the Peace and Unity Bill following prolonged debate and consultations on the need for the law dating to 2017.

The law empowers the commission to promote peace and unity in the country in a coordinated, collaborative and structured manner to achieve political prosperity and sustainable socio-economic development.