* Demonstrations organised by the Citizens for Credible Elections in various parts of the country today, the 26th day of June, 2025, were marred by violence
* Perpetrated by a group of panga-wielding individuals — leaving some of the organisers and participants injured and/or maimed
* Written reports, photographs, and video footage confirm that these barbaric acts occurred in full view of the state security agents – namely the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Malawi Law Society (MLS) is demanding on President Lazarus Chakwera to immediately dismiss of Minister of Homeland Security, Ezekiel Ching’oma and Inspector General of Police (IG), Merlyne Yolamu over their failure to act on perpetrators of escalating political violence that reared its head yesterday.
Advertisement
A statement signed by MLS president Davis Mthakati Njobvu and honorary secretary, Francis Ekari M’mame, says MLS has a statutory mandate under section 64(d) of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act “to protect matters of public interest touching, ancillary or incidental to law”.
The MLS contends that it has issued the statement following another it did on May 12, 2025 in which it highlighted “the continuing reports of escalating violence, alongside the apparent inaction and cosmetic response by the State and its security agents”.
“The Society has observed through reputable media reports that demonstrations organised by the Citizens for Credible Elections in various parts of the country today, the 26th day of June, 2025, were marred by violence perpetrated by a group of panga-wielding individuals — leaving some of the organisers and participants injured and/or maimed.
“Written reports, photographs, and video footage confirm that these barbaric acts occurred in full view of the state security agents – namely the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force.
“The Society calls upon the Malawi Police Service to immediately trace and bring to justice those responsible for assaulting and harassing peaceful protesters.”
The MLS further takes note that “this is not an isolated incident — violence has repeatedly been unleashed against those who have sought to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and other allied rights, most of which has been in full view of the state machinery”.
“The Society considers this inaction by the State and its security agents, which has in some instances been accompanied by cosmetic action, to be a calculated suppression of the right to freedom of assembly enshrined under section 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
“This also violates fundamental rights to security of person, freedom of association, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, and political participation enshrined in sections 19, 32, 34, 35, and 40 of the Constitution.
“The Society emphasises that under section 15(1) of the Constitution, the human rights and freedoms contained in Chapter 4 (Four) of the Constitution must be respected and upheld by all three (3) branches of Government, its organs, and agencies.”
Thus, the MLS calls upon President Lazarus Chakwera “to immediately relieve” of their duties, Homeland Security Minister, Ching’oma and the IG Yolamu — saying under section 153(4) of the Constitution, the Minister is responsible for ensuring that ‘the discipline and conduct of the Malawi Police Service accords with the prescriptions of [the] Constitution’ and – a responsibility which the Minister has demonstrably failed to uphold”.
Homeland Security Minister Ezekiel Ching’oma
Inspector General of the Police Merlyne Yolamu (left)
On IG Yolamu, the MLS says it has considered the “powers of command, superintendence, and direction that are bestowed in the office of the Inspector General under section 7 of the Police Act, and the powers that the President has under sections 154 (4) (a) and (b) of the Constitution, which respectively allow for the removal of the Inspector General of Police on account of incompetence of compromised impartiality”.
“Serious doubts exist regarding the competence and impartiality of the Inspector General of Police in light of today’s events, warranting her immediate removal from office.”
In conclusion, the MLS “reminds [President Chakwera] and all those that exercise State power, including its agencies, that under Section 12 of the Constitution, all political and legal authority derives from the people of Malawi”.
“Such authority must only be exercised within the confines of the law, and crucially for the benefit of the people of Malawi.”
Advertisement