President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has broken his silence over the violent incidents that erupted during the demonstrations on Thursday.
He has condemned the attacks on protestors and has vowed to hold those responsible to account.
In a statement issued from Nigeria, where he has been attending official engagements, Chakwera expressed concern over the violent turn of events.
He said while the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, the destruction of property and violence that accompanied the demonstrations were unacceptable.
“The right of Malawians to protest peacefully is not only enshrined in the Constitution but also a birthright. As such, both the violence and destruction of property that took place during these demonstrations are totally unacceptable and have no place in our democracy,” he said.
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Chakwera has since directed state agencies, including the police and intelligence services, to act “swiftly and decisively” to restore calm, investigate the incidents, and bring those who broke the law to justice.
“I have therefore directed all relevant state agencies to act swiftly and decisively to restore calm, as well as to investigate what happened and ensure that all those who violated the law are held accountable,” he said.
Chakwera said he expects a preliminary report from the Minister of Homeland Security and the Minister of Defence upon his return.
This will form the basis for further government action, he said.
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He emphasised that the period leading up to the general election must remain peaceful and free from violence.
Chakwera also urged Malawians to remain vigilant against those exploiting democratic rights to further political agendas through chaos and unrest.
“In the meantime, let us each remain vigilant against those who seek to use our right to protest as an occasion to perpetrate violence and lawlessness for political gain,” Chakwera warned. “Let us not allow them to tear down the country we are working so hard to rebuild.”
The Thursday brutality on protestors in Lilongwe has received a widespread condemnation, with much of the criticism directed at Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force officers for watching the abused instead of acting to protect citizens.
Various groups have called on Chakwera to sack Inspector General of Police Merylene Yolamu and Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma for failure of duty.
Malawi’s bilateral partners such as the European Union and the United States of America have also condemned the vicious attacks on protestors as an as assault of constitutional rights.
