By Cathy Maulidi:
Malawi Police Service (MPS) is yet to arrest anyone in relation to the attack on opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members in Lilongwe.
On Saturday, unknown people disrupted a DPP parade which was scheduled to take place in Lilongwe and the attack left some of the party’s members seriously injured and a number of vehicles destroyed.
The attack also culminated in hospitalisations.
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MPS spokesperson Peter Kalaya told The Daily Times that they are still investigating the matter.
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When asked if any arrest has been made, Kalaya responded in a written response: “No”.
But, in a statement he released on the issue on Saturday, Kalaya indicated that the fracas started when a group of young people wearing DPP attire stormed the DPP parade gathering and started attacking those that had gathered at the place.
“The service assures Malawians that it will not tolerate any act of political violence from any political grouping ahead of the 2025 general elections,” Kalaya said.
Meanwhile, civil rights groups have been pushing for swift investigations and immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
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In a joint statement, the organisations— Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation and Youth and Society— have called for prompt investigations.
“In light of the distressing events that occurred on Saturday, the undersigned civil society organisations urgently call for the prompt and thorough investigation into the attacks, with swift prosecution of the perpetrators to ensure accountability and justice.
“We further call for enhanced security measures to prevent future incidents of political violence and protect the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly,” the statement reads.
In a press statement, one of the Tonse Alliance administration partners, UTM, has called for unbiased action in dealing with what happened on Saturday morning.
The party’s national publicity secretary Felix Njawala has said: “We insist on unbiased action without fear or favour, and no sacred cows hidden from public scrutiny. The savage act was clearly organised and coordinated by individuals with connections and resources, and we expect the full force of the law to take its course.”
DPP, through spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, has also called on police to investigate the matter professionally.
Namalomba further pointed a finger at the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
But MCP publicity secretary Ezekiel Ching’oma, while also calling on the police to investigate the matter, claimed that DPP factions could be to blame for the attack.
