Police pushed to act on political violence
Pressure is mounting on the Malawi Police Service to track down and act on political hoodlums who assaulted Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) followers at Mbowe Service Station in Lilongwe in February.
Two months after the incident, police are yet to make any arrest, a situation which some quarters of society have said raises questions on the commitment by the police to decisively addressing the vice ahead of the 2025 polls.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba in an interview said they continue to suspect that the assailants who beat up their supporters were affiliated to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance.
He said with delayed justice on the matter, they have every reason to believe that the assailants could be linked to the governing elite.
“We still maintain our position that we trust the police and that they will do their job professionally to protect the rights of the people who were attacked,” said Namalomba.
MCP spokesperson Ezekiel Ching’oma did not respond to our questions yesterday, but in a statement a day after the incident, he dismissed the accusations and urged the police to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka has described failure by the police to investigate the incident as unfortunate, saying it does not inspire confidence in MPS as regards impartiality and professionalism.
He said the impunity in dealing with the issue seems to have given a blank cheque to MCP cadres to perpetrate violence and go scot-free as the police are unable to act.
Said Kajoloweka: “This is not an isolated incident. You should remember that MCP cadres have also disrupted protests in the cities amid full police presence. It does not inspire confidence in the police, considering that we have an election in a few months.”
Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence said lack of progress on the matter as evidenced by sluggishness on the part of police in arresting the culprits is questionable.
National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya, in a written response, said he could not give a timeline as to when Malawians should expect an end to investigations on the Mbowe incident.
He said action was being taken on all reported cases of electoral violence.
DPP members on February 24 2024 gathered at Mbowe Filling Station in Lilongwe for a Blue Convoy Parade before they were attacked by thugs who injured some of the party’s supporters, damaged cars and stole vehicle parts.
