* Gangata plans to lead a peaceful anti-violence-free demonstration on Friday, July 4 in the volatile political violence hub of the Capital City’s violence against any political protest
* The demonstration is being organised in response to increasing concerns about acts of violence and intimidation
* That have, in recent times, undermined the rights of citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations — especially within Lilongwe
By Duncan Mlanjira
Lilongwe District Council has summoned vice-president of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the Central Region, Alfred Gangata, to a stakeholders meeting on July 3 involving Malawi Police Service after he notified that he intends to hold peaceful demonstrations in the volatile political violence hub of the Capital City’s violence against any political protest.
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Dated June 30, District Commissioner (DC), Lawford Palani demands of Gangata to a meeting with the Malawi Police Service copied to Central Region Commissioner, officers-in-charge of Lilongwe and Lingadzi police stations, city council chief executive and Secretary for Local Government, Unity & Culture.
This follows Gangata’s application for permission made Monday to DC Palani that “as a proud citizen of Republic of Malawi, originally from Dedza District” and “a prominent businessman and a politician” notifying that he “will be leading a peaceful anti-violence-free demonstration on Friday, July 4 in Lilongwe”.
He indicates that the demonstration is being organised “in response to increasing concerns about acts of violence and intimidation that have, in recent times, undermined the rights of citizens to hold peaceful demonstrations — especially within Lilongwe”.
“As a concerned citizen, I find it deeply troubling that certain groups have resorted to using force and threats to silent others — this trend must be confronted with peace, orayer and unity.”
Done in full view of the police
Gangata assures that the demonstration he has planned “will be peaceful, law abiding and respectful of all authorities” adding that the message “is simple — to stand against violence and to affirm every Malawian’s constitutional right to peaceful protest and expression”.
“We believe that it is our moral and civic duty to protect these democratic values, emphasises Gangata, while indicating that he is leading this demonstration not in his political capacity, “but as a concerned citizen who loves his country and desires peace and justice for all”.
He further assured that he and his fellow organisers “are prepared to work closely with law enforcement” and the DC’s office “to ensure that the demonstration is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner”.
In response, the DC has summoned him to what is being described as a stakeholders meeting, which is seemingly a response to last Thursday’s violent attacks on a peaceful demonstration organised by civil rights activist Sylvester Namiwa that ended in terror perpetrated by masked panga knife-wielding gangs.
This response by the masked panga knife-wielding gangs, in full view of the police that provided security to Namiwa’s demonstration, is being suspected to have been organised internally by the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), whose leader, State President Lazarus Chakwera, was absent — away on an official trip to Nigeria.
Whilst there, he issued a statement yesterday via his official Facebook page, condemning the violence by the suspected MCP cadres, describing it as “unacceptable and contrary to democratic values of the country” — while reaffirming “the right of Malawians to protest peacefully as not only guaranteed by the Constitution but as also a fundamental birthright”.
Chakwera directed all relevant state agencies to act swiftly and decisively to restore order — and he also called for thorough investigations to ensure that all those who broke the law are brought to justice, saying he was “expecting a preliminary report from both the Ministers of Homeland Security and Defense” upon his return.
He has returned this afternoon and as he receives the reports he has asked for, the Malawi Law Society (MLS) will be expecting him to address the petition it issued on Thursday demanding the immediate 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 has just reared its head ahead of the September 16 elections.
A statement signed by MLS president Davis Mthakati Njobvu and honorary secretary, Francis Ekari M’mame, reminds Chakwera that 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’ – a responsibility which the Minister has demonstrably failed to uphold”.
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”.
IG Yolamu (left) on Chakwera’s return
“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 reminded 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.”
The MLS emphasised that it issued the petition through its 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 also reminded that it 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”.
In their response to the brutal violence, Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Malawi issued a statement condemning 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,” said 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.
“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 own 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 [and] what was particularly appalling was the failure of the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force 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.
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.
Identified as Nerson
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.
Expensive vehicle with no number plate abducting demonstration leaders
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.
These are what Chakwera has to take into consideration with — along with Gangata’s request for his “peaceful anti-violence-free demonstration” he has planned for Friday in the volatile Capital City — the home of the MCP.
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Unless Dr Chakwera begins to hold his subordinates truly accountable, the violence we are witnessing in our communities will only escalate. Complacency in the face of lawlessness is not leadership. It is complicity.
We are tired of words without action and kangaroo investigations that yield nothing.One of these days, the chickens will come home to roost. When innocent lives are lost, we will look back and ask why the warning signs were ignored. The President must act now not tomorrow, not next week. The time for decisive, transparent leadership is long overdue.