Expensive vehicle with no number plate abducting demonstration leaders
* Calls for swift action by the Malawi Police Service to apprehend and bring to justice those who are responsible for the acts of violence that have been observed yesterday and in recent months
* A review of procedures and conduct by the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service to ensure their conduct at demonstrations is in line with their constitutional mandate
By Duncan Mlanjira
The departments of the Church & Society for the Synods of Malawi’s Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), has issued a joint statement condemning the brutal political violence on yesterday’s peaceful demonstrations in full view of law enforcement agencies, Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force (MDF).
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In a statement issued today, Friday evening, the CCAP’s Church & Society directors, Rev M. Mulagha (Synod of Livingstonia); Rev M. Jumbe )Blantyre Synod) and Rev E.Y.M. Mwanza (Nkhoma Synod), call for:
* swift action by the Malawi Police Service to apprehend and bring to justice those who are responsible for the acts of violence that have been observed yesterday and in recent months;
* a review of procedures and conduct by the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service to ensure their conduct at demonstrations is in line with their constitutional mandate; and
* any individuals who have failed in their duties should face the appropriate disciplinary procedures as well as all political parties to desist from inciting violence.
The directors further ask all Malawians to prayerfully make every effort to do what leads to peace and the Church’s mutual edification.
“As a nation, we are facing many challenges, but we must seek peace and turn our frustrations into fruitful dialogue if we are to prosper.
“We continue to pray for those who lead and serve our nation in various ways and commit to playing our part in seeking the peace and good welfare of all Malawians,” says the statement in conclusion.
In its preamble, statement express the Church & Society’s directors’ “grave concerns” about the events that transpired yesterday, when Malawians gathered for peaceful demonstrations about the management of the upcoming elections.
“Organisers and demonstrators were subject to violent attacks and intimidation,” says the statement. “This happened in the sight of Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force personnel, but without their action.
“Yesterday, we saw the Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force fail to take up their mandate to protect constitutional and public order [Sections 153 (2) and 160 (1)].
“Malawians have the right to express their concerns through freedom of speech and assembly. Any unlawful restriction of those freedoms is a threat to peace.
“We write through the office of the General Assembly, the mother body of the CCAP, as representatives of the three Synods in Malawi — Livingstonia, Nkhoma, and Blantyre — because this is an issue that affects all Malawians, not only those exercising their right to demonstrate.”
The directors quote the Bible that compels that to seek peace: ‘Let us therefore make every e1ort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification’ (Romans 14:19).
“We, therefore, cannot sit quietly in the face of violence, nor should those with a mandate to protect and defend the citizens of Malawi.
“Events in Lilongwe yesterday are just the latest examples of violent individuals attacking and intimidating peaceful demonstrators.
“Last week, armed individuals prevented demonstrators from proceeding with their planned activities in Mzuzu, which echoed events in Lilongwe last December.
“We are concerned that this pattern of impunity is a threat to our wider political freedoms and the integrity of our upcoming election.”
The Church & Society stance follows that by Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Malawi jointly condemned the violence and called on the Government and Malawi’s State authorities “to uphold the rule of law, protect the people of Malawi and conduct an investigation into any incidents of violence”.
“Malawi’s security forces have a duty to uphold the right to freedom of assembly for all citizens,” says the Heads of Missions in their joint statement. “”We urge all Malawian to respect the right to assemble and demonstrate responsibly and peacefully.
“The right to freedom of assembly is enshrined in Malawi’s Constitution, protected under international human rights law and is the cornerstone of Malawi’s open and democratic society.
The demonstration were led by the Police and the MDF
“As long-standing partners and friends of Malawi, we are troubled by reports that illustrate a trend of violence during peaceful and lawful demonstrations in Malawi’s cities.”
The Diplomatic Missions are European Union, Embassies of the Federal Republic of Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, The Royal Nowergean, the United States and the British High Commission.
In her separate statement, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Amy Diaz said she was “sickened to see the violence against peaceful demonstrators by a group of armed assailants” adding that “what was particularly appalling was the failure of the Police and the MDF to carry out their duties to protect their fellow citizens”.
“A fundamental duty of government is to ensure that citizens can freely exercise their rights under the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, several members of the public have identified some of the panga-wielding perpetrators of the brutal violence that terrorised a peaceful demonstration organised by Citizens for Credible Elections in Lilongwe.
Identitied as Nerson
They were caught on camera carrying out their act savagery in full view of the Police and the MDF who were supposedly providing security to the demonstrators.
One caught manhandling a demonstrator in full of the law enforcement officers, has been identified as Nerson, a bouncer at Illusions Bar in Lilongwe and he is also dressed in military regalia, which has just been banned by Minister of Homeland Security, Ezekiel Ching’oma just a day previously.
The same individual is also suspected to be carrying a firearm, which has been detected on his trousers’ back pocket, yet possession of guns in public gatherings ahead of September 16 elections has been banned by electoral law as announced by Malawi Electoral Commission on Monday.
Identified as Mkasa operating along Devil Street
One other individual has been identified as Mkasa, a mobile phone repairman operating along Devil Street with full direction to where he operates at his shop, hinting to the police that these can lead to gang leaders and possible financiers of this political terrorism shaking the Capital City in recent times.
The swift coordination, in which the violence perpetrators are using of expensive cars — coupled that none is being arrested for the crimes against innocent demonstrators— generate suspicion on the public that they are funded by high ranking individuals.
