‘Failure to condemn and address current political violence reinforces public perception that government agencies are accomplices to the acts of savagery and barbarism’

* The silence and inaction is unfortunate and sends out wrong signals to perpetrators of violence that they are above the law and that criminal acts will go unsanctioned

* Malawi Police urged to bring to book the militia-like violent disruptors of lawful assemblies of citizens who gather to exercise their democratic right to peaceful demonstration

By Duncan Mlanjira

Just as other stakeholders have observed, Political Science Association (PSA) also takes note that “the emerging pattern of the violent disruption of lawfully organised demonstrations, has so far not been worthy public condemnation by government authorities”.

Thus the PSA contends that “the violent and systematic pattern of violence of the right of 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”.

In a statement signed for by PSA president, Dr. Henry Chingaipe and secretary general, Makhumbo Mkanavimbundi Munthali, refers to the “recurring acts of political violence that have been aimed at constraining, or even completely stopping citizens from exercising their constitutional right to a peace demonstration to protest elements of misgovernance or call attention to the authorities to specific public issues that in their view require immediate attention of state authorities”.

PSA takes note of two occasions November 13 and 25 when “masked and panga-wielding perpetrators of violence disrupted demonstrations organized by Centre for Democracy & Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI) even when the organisers complied with all administrative and legal requirements for holding such demonstrations”.

They also have taken note that the disruptions occurred while the Malawi Police, as law enforcement agency, “simply watched the perpetrators of violence and did not take steps to restrain”.

“It is our view that the right to peacefully demonstrate being constitutional, the security agencies, especially the Malawi Police, have a duty to safeguard the right and to provide security to those who exercise the right and to take action against those that have acted unlawfully and criminally to constrain the exercise of the right,” says the statement.

The association of political scientists further condemns Lilongwe District Commissioners and the chief executive of Lilongwe City Council, “who are mandated to administratively process notices of public demonstrations, are frequently taking decisions that frustrate the right of citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations based on less credible reasons”.

Twice the DC’s office stopped CDEDI from going ahead with the demonstration they applied for citing that “the majority of police officers were engaged with equally important assignments” and for yesterday, the “equally important assignment” was President Lazarus Chakwera’s official launch of the battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Kanengo Substation in Lilongwe.

Thus PSA maintains that the decisions by the DC’s office and Lilongwe City Council “are insensitive to the prevailing political economy context of our country and indirectly provide motivation and rationalisation for criminal elements such as the masked panga-yielding perpetrators of violence to disrup demonstrations in the way they have done on these two occasions”.

The government agencies and all stakeholders are reminded of section 38 of the Constitution that provides that every person shall have the right to assemble and demonstrate with others peacefully and unarmed and “by virtue of being a constitutional right, the right to demonstrate cannot be suspended or curtailed except through means provided by the law”.

PSA calls on government authorities and all Malawians “to condemn these acts of violence and to take measures to defend the Constitution and guard against democratic backsliding through political intolerance”.

They also urges the Malawi Police “to bring to book the militia-like violent disruptors of lawful assemblies of citizens who gathered to exercise their democratic right to peaceful demonstration”.

“The PSA has observed that the emerging pattern of the violent disruption of lawfully organised demonstrations, has so far not been worthy public condemnation by government authorities — neither has it merited action to hold perpetrators of violence accountable.

“It is our view that the silence and inaction against perpetrators of violence is unfortunate and sends out wrong signals to perpetrators of violence that they are above the law and that criminal acts will go unsanctioned.”

The PSA has joined other’s stakeholders in condemning what was described as “deafening silence” on President Chakwera for not taking action after the November 13, as said by All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) economic justice & accountability champion in Malawi, Rev. Baxton Maulidi.

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)-Blantyre Synod through Church & Society Programme, also expressed its concern and condemned “in the strongest terms the failure by Malawi Police to provide security to peaceful demonstrators against thugs armed with panga knives” that took place on November 13.

Inspector General of Police, Merlyne Yolamu was asked “to intervene and rise above partisan politics and swiftly bring to book all perpetrators of the said violence in Lilongwe” while also appealing to the youths, “who most of the times are jobless, to desist from being used by selfish politicians in perpetrating violence in the run-up to the 2025 General Elections.

Other concerned entities, such as Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) in condemning the blatant acts of violence of November 13 while after yesterday’s incident, Malawi Law Society (MLS) issued a statement of concerned that condemns President Chakwera’s “silence” over the emerging political violence the country is experiencing.

In the statement issued by MLS president, Charles Mpaka, the legal practioners’ body called on the President to observe section 88 of the Constitution to uphold peace and unity for immediate end of any form of emerging political violence across the country

“Malawi Law Society has noted growing incidents of violence and marked silence from state authorities in managing the violence,” said the statement. “Under the Constitution, state authorities are the duty bearers responsible to ensure peaceful enjoyment of all rights by all citizens and residents of the country.

“Political violence of any kind cannot be tolerated in a multiparty democracy and we call upon the state authorities in command of public safety and protection of the rights of persons in Malawi and responsible for the upholding of the constitutional order to deliver a clear and timely message and take action that demonstrates that no form of political violence by any category of political groupings or other wise will be tolerated ahead of the 2025 General elections.”

Others were Leader of Opposition George Chaponda, who attacked the President for what he deemed to be his influence for the chaos that happened, saying: “What’s the government afraid of?…Why should people be denied their right to demonstrate just because President Chakwera has a public event? The right to demonstrate doesn’t depend on the President’s program.”

Prior to Monday’s planned demonstration, the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) also called on President Chakwera and the state authorities to openly denounce the rising tide of political violence.

“As church leaders, we believe that silence from our political leaders, including the President, could be interpreted as complicity,” said the statement on Saturday. “We urge the leadership of this nation to take a firm stand against political violence and promote a culture of peace and tolerance.”

The following day, Chief Economist Chifipa Mhango, who is director of economic research & strategy for South Africa’s Don Consultancy Group, wrote to Minister of Information & Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu — copied to Ministers of Finance & Economic Affairs; Trade & Industry and Homeland Security as key Ministries, stressing that “violence in a country has economic consequences and the Minister of Homeland Security has a role to play to stop violence through effective police service”.