In full view of security officers, a gang armed with pangas and other weapons yesterday torched vehicles, stole a public address (PA) system and beat up Lilongwe protests organisers, including Sylvester Namiwa.
The gang disrupted demonstrations that Citizens for Credible Elections organised to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi to step down.
Lilongwe District Council had earlier allowed the protest, assuring the organisers of police security as evidenced by armed officers who in the morning gathered at Lilongwe Community Ground, the protesters planned starting point. The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers later joined them to beef up security.
The protests’ coordinator Namiwa looked excited as he went around greeting security officers and later joined those dancing to music as they waited for more people to join.
As the music played, the crowd was suddenly attacked by the gang with pangas, stones and other weapons while police and MDF soldiers watched.
The hooligans pelted the protesters with stones, forcing them to flee. The gang also torched two vehicles, damaged others and beat up the organisers.
While some police officers tried to disperse the gang by firing tear gas, other security agents were seen running for dear life.
Namiwa, who was targeted in the ambush, was mercilessly beaten up and wondered how police and MDF soldiers let the thugs assault him and attack protesters in their presence.
“Have we reached this point where thugs can attack peaceful gatherings in the presence of the police and MDF? What are you doing as security personnel?” cried out Namiwa.
As he cried out for help, the gang members intensified the assault.
A group of bouncers, who had arrived at the scene in a Toyota Fortuner, nearly abducted Namiwa. They aimed at the activist and severely assaulted him while dragging him to their vehicle.
Namiwa narrowly escaped after police fired tear gas to contain the situation.
In an interview, one of the organisers Edward Kambanje, who was also assaulted, accused the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of being behind the attack.
However, he said the protesters are determined to pursue their agenda.
“A number of people have sustained injuries and the attack is a sign that we are no longer in a democracy under MCP,” he said.
Asked about the whereabouts of Namiwa, who could not be reached on the phone, Kambanje said he was informed that Namiwa had rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
When contacted, MCP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda declined to comment on allegations that the party was behind the violence.
“If you want to know who went to disrupt these demonstrations, find out. As MCP we have no comment, thank you,” he said.
However, he accused the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of organising the demonstrations, claiming the party was using Namiwa and his colleagues to wreak havoc in the country.
Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (Cseif) and National Advocacy Platform (NAP) have condemned the attack on the protesters.
In a statement yesterday, Cseif and NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said the two institutions have demanded that the Malawi Police Service immediately prosecute all perpetrators of violence.
“We call on all political parties to unreservedly denounce, disassociate from, and stop the orchestration or endorsement of violence against demonstrators, as such actions amount to an assault on democracy and the rule of law,” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has asked Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma and Inspector General (IG) of Police Merlyne Yolamu to resign following ugly demonstration scenes in Lilongwe.
In a press briefing last evening in Blantyre, he noted that police failed to provide the necessary security at the demonstration, a situation that led to the assault of some demonstrators, including their leader Namiwa.
Kabambe said police’s inaction was questionable.
He said: “I am calling for the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of police and Minister of Homeland Security.
“If they will not resign or be fired, we will mobilise our supporters to join future demonstrations where we will add the resignation of the two on the agenda.”
