Pressure is mounting on President Lazarus Chakwera and Inspector General (IG) of Police Merlyne Yolamu to bring to an end the growing cases of political violence in the country.
The pressure comes on the back of several incidents of violence in Lilongwe, Mponela in Dowa, Blantyre and Chikwawa against the opposition as well as those in government, including the President himself, but most perpetrators remain free.
In a statement on Monday evening, Political Science Associat ion (PSA) said disruptions of peaceful demonstrations have occurred while law enforcement agencies simply watched the perpetrators and took no steps to restrain them or protect the demonstrators.
Signed by PSA president Henry Chingaipe and general secretary Makhumbo Munthali, the association reminded the police of its duty to provide security to those who exercise their rights and take action against those acting unlawfully and criminally.
Reads the statement: “This violent and systematic pattern of violation of the right to demonstration, coupled with government’s failure to either condemn or address these violations of the constitutionally guaranteed right reinforce the public perception that agents of the State are accomplices to these acts of savagery and barbarism,” it said.
The PSA has cautioned district commissioners (DCs) and chief executive officers (CEOs) of councils to stop being used by the Executive to frustrate the right of citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations.
Writing on Facebook, private practice lawyer Bright Theu said the silence by the IG and the President in the face of repeated machete-wielding gangs was appalling, irresponsible and reckless.
He said: “Your inertia in the face of this, now common phenomenon, is not anything close to wisdom, in case this is the advice you have received from those who have your mind.”
Mzuzu Youth Caucus, led by Gomezgani Nkhoma, has also demanded that government take s immediate action to address the matter.
On Monday, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said the President preaches peace and rule of law where the right to hold diverse political views is respected.
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.
