Police IG “candidly acknowledges” presence of ‘invisible actors’ who influence violence from behind the scenes using youths

* As she reiterates the police’s commitment to neutralise such influences where possible ahead of September 16 General Elections

* Establishes an Electoral Security that includes MEC and other security institutions — MDF, Malawi Prison Service and Immigration Department

By Duncan Mlanjira

In its summary of the 6th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference convened by the quasi-religious group, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on May 20-21 at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre, the Inspector General of the Malawi Police Services (MPS), Merlyne Yolamu is reported to have candidly acknowledged the presence of “invisible actors” who influence violence from behind the scenes.

She is also reported to have reiterated the Police’s “commitment to neutralise such influences where possible ahead of the September 16 General Elections.

Held under the theme; ‘Securing Consensus on Transparent and Accountable Electoral Governance through Dialogue’, the 6th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference attracted a wide range of stakeholder delegates that included representatives from political parties, the private sector, civil society, the media, and technical experts.

Also present were key stakeholders that included Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor, Dr. Mafuta Mwale, Minister of Information & Digitilisation, Moses Kunkuyu, among other high profile delegates.

The PAC report says IG Yolamu “delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining its role in safeguarding the 2025 General Elections and its state of preparedness to ensure peaceful, credible and secure electoral processes”.

She began by outlining the Malawi Police Service’s constitutional and legal mandate — established under Section 152 of the Constitution, and further guided by the Police Act (Cap. 13:01), in which the MPS is responsible for preventing crime, maintaining law and order, protecting life and property, and upholding the rights of individuals.

“In the context of elections, the MPS works in close collaboration with MEC, as empowered by Section 8(i) of the MEC Act,” says the report.

Yolamu continued to announce that a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the MPS and MEC has been instituted to enable structured coordination in managing electoral security and as part of its election preparedness efforts, the Police established an Electoral Security Task Team, which operates within a broader Joint Elections Security Task Force that includes MEC and other security institutions such as the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the Malawi Prison Service, and the Department of Immigration & Citizenship Services.

“The Task Force is charged with planning, coordinating, and implementing security measures; engaging with stakeholders; building police capacity; and responding to any incidents of electoral violence or fraud.

“To ensure a grounded and strategic approach, the MPS conducted an ‘electoral security needs assessment, which identified potential security risks and threats — including politically motivated violence, youth involvement in unrest, and inadequate infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas.

“It also evaluated the effectiveness of current security measures and recommended targeted improvements. Areas assessed included public order management, mobility, human resources, community policing, command and coordination infrastructure, and capacity-building.”

Significant findings from the assessment included:

* The need for continual replenishment of tactical gear for public order responses;

* A shortfall in the number of police officers available to manage elections without disrupting regular duties; however, this is being addressed through inter-agency support;

* Adequate transport resources, though logistical support is still welcome, particularly for 291 hard-to-reach polling areas;

* Revitalisation of dormant community policing structures, which are being progressively re-equipped;

* Establishment of seven joint operation centres (JOCs), one in each policing region and one at headquarters, with assistance from UNDP.

“These will be equipped with drones and body-worn cameras to improve coordination and incident response,” reported the IG, adding that there an ongoing training for police officers on electoral laws, public order management, cybercrime, customer care, and human rights.

In addressing the threat of political violence, IG Yolamu cited the violent episodes surrounding the 2019 and 2020 elections, saying the Police have “proactively identified potential violence hotspots across the country — including Karonga, Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Mangochi, and others”.

To mitigate these risks, Yolamu is reported to have said they have engaged in community outreach and stakeholder dialogue in which high-profile meetings have been held with political party secretary generals, directors of women and youth, and civil society organizsations (CSOs) to advocate for peaceful, issue-based campaigns.

In addition to these preventive strategies, Yolamu reported that the Police “is enhancing its investigative and prosecutorial capabilities to deal with electoral violence when it occurs”.

“Outreach to vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and the elderly, has also been increased to promote civic education and nonviolence,” she reported adding that inter-agency coordination has been strengthened in which the Police met with the MDF, Prison and Immigration Services on May 19, to share its 2025 General Elections Security Plan and joint operational procedures.

“This meeting underscored a united security front during the election period,” she reported — adding that a symbolic gesture of unity and commitment to peaceful elections was to take place on Thursday, May 23, when the MPS and political party representatives, alongside other electoral stakeholders and development partners, were to hold a joint solidarity march denouncing political violence ahead of the elections.

“In conclusion, the MPS presentation underscored its strategic and comprehensive approach to securing the 2025 elections,” says the PAC. “Through legal mandate, institutional coordination, capacity development, and active community engagement, the MPS reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an environment conducive to free, fair and credible elections in Malawi.”

Reactions from stakeholders raised a number of observations, questions, and concerns in which felt that the IG’s presentation should have included statistical data to better contextualise the scope of electoral violence and police interventions.

“There were concerns expressed about perceptions of selective law enforcement, with some suggesting that known perpetrators of violence had yet to be apprehended, leading to public mistrust.

“The safety of persons with albinism during elections was raised, with delegates seeking assurance on protective measures in place. There were also calls for clearer strategies to prevent the exploitation of young people as agents of political violence, and suggestions that the Police should engage more actively in community sensitisation initiatives to address these risks.

“While delegates commended the police service for enhanced community engagement and inter-agency coordination, some questioned whether an early warning system was fully operational and whether enough was being done to identify and address both visible and invisible actors contributing to electoral tensions.

“Concerns were also raised over the proliferation of unlicensed firearms, the effectiveness of measures in place to manage political violence during party primary elections, and the conditions surrounding the right to peaceful demonstrations.

“Some delegates observed that restrictions placed on demonstration routes and dates appeared to undermine the intent of such civic actions.

“Others questioned the number of roadblocks across the country, expressing fears that these might be misused and could erode public confidence in the Police.

“Additionally, there were suggestions that police officers might be reluctant to act decisively in politically sensitive cases due to fear of reprisals, and a call was made for the police to cultivate a culture of transparency by providing regular updates on the progress of investigations.

“Some delegates pointed to reports from public opinion studies suggesting diminished public trust in the police service relative to other security institutions.”

The feedback further urged the police “to invest in rebuilding public confidence through professional conduct, impartial enforcement of the law, and visible action against politically motivated violence”.

“The proliferation of private security firms and their role in election security was also discussed, with concerns over their regulation and accountability. Delegates proposed that these entities be properly accredited and monitored.”

In response, the IG acknowledged that incidents of electoral violence have indeed occurred, although not at the scale sometimes suggested by social media and she assured Malawians that investigations were ongoing and appropriate action would be taken.

She, however, emphasised that “political leaders themselves bore a significant responsibility in curbing violence within their constituencies and party structures”.

On the concerns on persons living with albinism, the Inspector General reported that no incidents targeting had been recorded since 2020, attributing this success to targeted protection strategies.

On the issue of youth being exploitated during electoral periods, the IG Indicated that ongoing community engagement initiatives aimed at safeguarding them from being used — thus she “candidly acknowledged the presence of ‘invisible actors’, who influence violence from behind the scenes and reiterated the police’s commitment to neutralise such influences where possible”.

Regarding early warning mechanisms, she confirmed the existence of operational systems for risk detection and rapid response and addressing concerns over delayed Police action, she reaffirmed their “commitment to professional investigations and invited concerned parties to formally engage the Police Service for case-specific clarifications”.

“It was noted that the Police remain open to dialogue and collaboration with civil society and political actors to jointly safeguard public order,” says the report. “On the issue of demonstrations, the Police reiterated support for the constitutional right to peaceful protest but expressed concerns over frequent incidents of violence during such activities.

“Delegates were encouraged to work closely with the Police to plan peaceful demonstrations, with scheduling decisions sometimes influenced by the need to avoid clashes with other national activities.”

On the proliferation of unregistered firearms Yolamu reported that the Police confiscated 62 illegal firearms in 2024 while the legal framework for regulating private security companies falls under the Ministry of Homeland Security but indicated plans to engage these firms as part of a broader election security strategy.

“The Inspector General thus condemned any form of politically motivated violence and reiterated the Service’s independence and impartiality in,executing its mandate.

“She reassured delegates of her personal and institutional commitment to professionalism, condemning any unethical behavior by Police officers, including demands for kickbacks.

“In closing, the Inspector General of Police expressed appreciation for the platform provided by the conference, emphasising that national security during elections is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders — including political leaders, civil society, the electorate and the Police.”