The Malawi Peace and Unity Commission has asked chiefs in the Northern Region to be non-partisan and give equal chance to all political parties to campaign in their areas, saying neutrality would help reduce spates of violence in the country.
Chairperson of the commission Mary Nkosi made the remarks Tuesday in Mzuzu during an interaction with traditional leaders from Northern Region districts.
Nkosi said chiefs, as custodians of peace, have a critical role to play in discouraging violence, especially among young people who are often manipulated for political gain.
She also urged political party leaders to respect traditional authorities by notifying them in advance of planned rallies to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
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“We are seeing that political parties go into the areas and use the youth to incite violence; they also use women to sing songs that incite hate.
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“So, we are saying that the chiefs should condemn violence whenever they notice it, especially at this time when we are talking about political violence,” Nkosi said.
A similar session was conducted in the Eastern Region, with plans underway to engage traditional leaders from the Central and Southern regions.
According to Nkosi, at the end of the sessions the chiefs will sign a communique committing to be ambassadors of peace in their areas.
Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa said it was unfortunate that the country has already started experiencing episodes of violence ahead of the September 16, 2025 elections.
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M’mbelwa then appealed to political parties to ensure they use the youth on tasks that would benefit the nation.
“If you engage the youth, let it be on things that we would love to see our children do at home. But also, a message to the youth themselves: they have to take responsibility.
“This is our country. It might seem interesting to destroy things now but this is the same country they will one day lead because they will also become leaders of the country,” he said.
