The victim tries to get the police officer help him from the grip of the perpetrator.—Pictured from Facebook
* One identified as Nerson, a civilian dressed in military regalia in full view of police and MDF — yet just banned by Minister of Homeland Security the previous day
* A suspected firearm has been detected on his trousers’ back pocket, yet possession of guns in public gatherings ahead of September 16 elections is banned by electoral law
* The swift coordination using of expensive cars generates suspicion that they are funded by high ranking individuals
By Duncan Mlanjira
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.
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They were caught on camera carrying out their act savagery in full view of the Malawi Police and the Malawi Defence Force (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.
Expensive vehicle with no number plate abducting demonstration leaders
One observer on social media, Leah Mbughi notes that police officer, “Imedi was killed while on duty in 2020, and no one has been arrested for the brutal killing”.
“Another officer was killed in Chatoloma, Kasungu, and no one has been arrested. Yesterday … thugs hacked [demonstration organiser] Slyvester Namiwa in broad daylight, in full view of police and MDF soldiers, yet no one has been arrested.
“… thugs have been terrorising Lilongwe since 2020. In 2022, they hacked a DPP woman in Mponera; in 2023, they hacked DPP supporters in Lilongwe — despite these incidents, the thugs have not been apprehended and are still walking freely in our streets.
“Earlier this year, the same … thugs were seen attacking civil servants in Lilongwe in the presence of the police,” says Mbughi, while alleging that a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) high ranking politician, whom we do not mention, “is behind all these attacks — he finances the thugs to cause havoc in Lilongwe”.
“Should we believe that all these attacks by MCP thugs are a coincidence? No, they are well-planned attacks on the citizens. Members of Parliament were attacked in Lilongwe, with cars smashed in full view of the police.
“These attacks are not random, they are well-planned. Fellow Malawians, it’s time to rise and defend our hard-earned democracy,” she said.
Meanwhile, soon after the violence, the Malawi Law Society (MLS) met and resolved to issue a statement in which they are demanding President Lazarus Chakwera to immediately 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 reared its head yesterday.
A statement signed by MLS president Davis Mthakati Njobvu and honorary secretary, Francis Ekari M’mame, contends that it MLS has 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”.
The demonstration were led by the Police and the MDF
MLS called upon the Malawi Police Service “to immediately trace and bring to justice those responsible for assaulting and harassing peaceful protesters”, adding that
yesterday’s incident is not isolated as violence “has repeatedly been unleashed against those who have sought to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and other allied rights, most of which has been in full view of the state machinery”.
“The Society considers this inaction by the State and its security agents, which has in some instances been accompanied by cosmetic action, to be a calculated suppression of the right to freedom of assembly enshrined under section 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.”
Thus, the MLS calls upon President Chakwera “to immediately relieve” of their duties Homeland Security Minister, Ching’oma and the IG Yolamu — saying 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’ and – a responsibility which the Minister has demonstrably failed to uphold”.
Ezekiel Ching’oma
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”.
“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.”
Inspector General of the Police Merlyne Yolamu (left)
In conclusion, the MLS “reminds [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.”
“This also violates fundamental rights to security of person, freedom of association, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, and political participation enshrined in sections 19, 32, 34, 35, and 40 of the Constitution.
“The Society emphasises that under section 15(1) of the Constitution, the human rights and freedoms contained in Chapter 4 (Four) of the Constitution must be respected and upheld by all three (3) branches of Government, its organs, and agencies.”
On Monday, MEC highlighted in its countdown update ahead of the September 16 General Elections — through https://mec.org.mw/publications/ — an alert contained in the Code of Conduct (https://mec.org.mw/publications/ ) that published in the Gazettem which prohibits possession of guns during this electoral period.
Specifically, the Code of Conduct, among other things, “prohibits a political party or candidate participating in an election or any other person, in relation to elections, shall not carry, display, or use arms, weapons, or any traditional or unconventional weapons at political events”.
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These meetings include “political marches, demonstrations or rallies for the purpose of electoral campaign for political parties, candidates and their followers”.
“This being a regulation, it is enforceable, and the law has given the Commission powers to mete out fines for violations,” said MEC, which publishes all electoral updates on its Facebook page; https://web.facebook.com/Mwelectoralcommission.
