Teargas that was fired and masked panga knife wielding people waiting to pounce on demonstrators
* Calls on the President to observe section 88 of the Constitution to uphold peace and unity
* Why should people be denied their right to demonstrate just because President Chakwera has a public event?—Leader of Opposition George Chaponda
By Duncan Mlanjira
Concerned with the continuing of political violence that resurfaced today in Lilongwe, Malawi Law Society (MLS) has issued a statement of concerned that condemns President Lazarus 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 calls on President Chakwera 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.
Charles Mpaka
“Malawi Law Society has noted growing incidents of violence and marked silence from state authorities in managing the violence,” says 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.”
Police fired teargas to disperse a peaceful demonstration at Lilongwe Community Centre, causing chaos and disrupting Lilongwe Primary School and surrounding areas. Images on social media show masked individuals with pangas and knives standing by to oppose the protesters.
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The demonstration, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI), was intended to be peaceful but they were stopped from going ahead with the protest by Lilongwe District Council on citing that “the majority of police officers were engaged with equally important assignments”.
The equally important assignment seems to be President Chakwera’s official launch of the battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Kanengo Substation in Lilongwe.
On his Facebook page, Leader of Opposition George Chaponda attacked the President for what he deemed to be his influence for the chaos that happened.
Headlined; ‘Shame on President Chakwera and his MCP thugs’, Chaponda asked: “What’s the government afraid of? Today, peaceful demonstrators were met with tear gas for desiring to exercising their fundamental right to assemble.
“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.
“In 2019, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika respected this right, even when it was inconvenient. That’s what democracy looks like. I think this is why Malawians want him back in power come 2025.
“We demand an end to the suppression of our rights. Let us exercise our freedom to assemble and express ourselves without fear of violence or intimidation.
On Saturday, 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. “We urge the leadership of this nation to take a firm stand against political violence and promote a culture of peace and tolerance.”
EAM highlighted specific incidents in which political violence has disrupted peaceful gatherings, noting that these actions not only infringe on constitutional rights but also create an environment of fear and instability.
The church grouping appealed to leaders across all political divides to uphold the principles of dialogue and coexistence, which are essential for Malawi’s development: “Malawi’s hard-earned democracy must not be derailed by acts of violence.
“It is the responsibility of our leaders to lead by example, fostering an atmosphere where differences in opinion are resolved through dialogue, not intimidation or force.”
EAM also urged law enforcement agencies to act impartially by bringing perpetrators of violence to justice, regardless of their political affiliations.
Yesterday, just ahead of the demonstrations, 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 sympathising with him following the unfortunate incident on Friday when his car convoy was stoned by residents of Ndirande Township.
Kunkuyu in Ndirande before violence erupted
It is 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”.
Mhango said he was also compelled to make a statement following the planned demonstrations tomorrow in Lilongwe over the continued fuel crisis rocking the entire country.
He wrote that he “stand in shame as a Malawian citizen to notice that we have sections of our society in Malawi celebrating [what happened in Ndirande], which in true sense is violence.
“If as a nation, the way of sorting out grievances is through violence, then the country has no future,” he wrote, while reminding the Ministers of the masked panga knife-wielding groups of people captured attacking people a few weeks ago in Lilongwe — who were on a mission to disrupt a planned demonstration.
He emphasised that a panga knife “is not a small weapon” as it is “meant to kill if it’s used on a human body” — so equally “a stone has similar consequences”, he said, giving an example from the Bible in which David used a stone to kill Goliath.
“What again shocks me is that certain sections of our society were celebrating seeing these panga-carrying group disrupting a planned demonstration. “As leaders in society, if we take an approach of choosing or being selective on what to condemn, and being part to celebrating violence that suits us, then our nation is doomed permanently.
“The nation opted for democracy in 1993, and not violence. It is important that as leaders in society, we live by example and condemn any form of violence no matter who does it.
“Our silence on certain violent acts or planned violence creates elements of animosity towards each other in society,” Mhango said while also reminding Kunkuyu that he recently wrote the Minister on the fanatical way Malawian politics has generated, “to which it resembles football teams”.
The Chief Economist Chifipa Mhango
“Unfortunately, the supporters who have matured into fanatics, have now become violent on the ground. We cannot be a nation that celebrates violence because it’s suits our political story.
“Let’s be weary of our actions as leaders, and be in the forefront of condemnation of any violent acts, and also build a professional police service, with a sole duty of protection of its citizens.
“We cannot have Police that allows violence or inflict violence on its citizens. No country’s economy is built or developed in an environment full of violence. It discourages investment.
“Your Minstry, which is the mouth piece of Government, should be in the forefront to preaching peace and condemning any violence in the country no matter which political side.
“We must always remember, when we are elected into Government, we are no longer serving the interest of our political parties, but that of Malawians in general.
“Let’s build a peaceful Malawi,” concludes Chief Economist while maintaining that “violence in a country has economic consequences”.
Also issued yesterday, a statement by National Advocacy Platform (NAP) condemned the stoning of Kunkuyu’s convoy, saying this represents an alarming escalation of lawlessness and political intolerance.
NAP chairperson, Benedicto Kondowe and national coordinator, Baxton Nkhoma jointly signed the statement expressing concern about deliberate creation of “no-go-zones” which undermines the fundamental principles of democracy including freedom of movement, association as well as political participation.
“These violent acts are an affront to Malawi’s Constitution and international human rights commitments, signaling an alarming shift towards political intolerance and lawlessness,” reads the statement in part.
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