By Pemphero Malimba:
Barely days after panga-wielding people stopped opposition parties from holding demonstrations in Lilongwe, the masked ruffians yesterday teamed up with Malawi Police Service (MPS) personnel to foil yet another anti-government demonstration against fuel scarcity.
Monday, MPS officers fired teargas canisters at would-be protesters while roughnecks used pangas to disperse demonstrators who wanted to participate in the demonstrations—led by Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi).
Hundreds of people, including UTM new president Dalitso Kabambe, had to run for their dear lives to escape the wrath of the two groups.
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In an interview, Kabambe condemned MPS for blocking the protests.
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He observed that the Republican Constitution gives the citizenry the right to demonstrate for or against an issue.
“Therefore, for a government today to come and oppress people from exercising their right to demonstrate is not right and it must not be tolerated. What the government is doing is wrong,” Kabambe said.
He said dictatorship had no room in Malawi.
“When you start oppressing people with dictatorship like this, you just raise the anger of Malawians. We are going to come forward strongly and we will see each other on the streets of Malawi,” he said.
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Cdedi Executive Director Silvester Namiwa expressed concern over the development.
“We, as citizens, are all ashamed as we are seeing the State take this dangerous route where the police are shielding panga-wielding criminals at the expense of voters and taxpayers, whose only crime is resorting to take to the streets demanding answers from the very same people that took an oath to protect them in the first place,” he said.
He warned that the organisation would mobilise people across the country to stop paying tax.
“Should this continue, we will be prompted to mobilise Malawians to stop paying taxes. Our taxes cannot be spent on police officers that are propagating lawlessness. Secondly, these shenanigans should prompt us to double our vigilance to defend this country from mediocrity, impunity and arrogance,” Namiwa said.
National Advocacy Platform (Nap) Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe described the development as an act that could undermine citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
“We, as Nap, strongly condemn the repeated disruption of demonstrations through police teargas and threats from panga-wielding men. These actions undermine citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and reflect a growing trend of intimidation and suppression.
“This situation highlights the urgent need for accountability within law enforcement and decisive action against those using violence to threaten public freedoms. The way forward lies in fostering dialogue between the authorities and citizens, ensuring police neutrality and holding perpetrators of intimidation accountable to restore public trust and uphold democratic principles,” Kondowe said.
On its part, the Malawi Law Society (MLS) asked the President to act on cases of political violence.
MLS President Patrick Mpaka observed that it was the duty of the government to ensure peaceful enjoyment of all rights by all citizens and residents of the country.
“Political violence of any kind cannot be tolerated in a multiparty democracy and we call upon the State authorities in command of public safety and protection of the rights of persons in Malawi and responsible for the upholding of the constitutional order to deliver a clear and timely message and take action that demonstrates that no form of political violence by any category of political groupings or otherwise will be tolerated ahead of [the] 2025 general elections.
“We make a direct call on President Lazarus Chakwera, by virtue of Section 88 of the Constitution, to see [as important] the upholding of peace and unity and immediate end of any form of emerging political violence across the country,” Mpaka said.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda expressed concern over the developments in Lilongwe.
Speaking in Parliament, Chaponda said Malawi was a democratic country and that it was wrong to deny citizens their right to demonstrate.
“Malawi is part of the Commonwealth, and demonstrations are a common practice, where people are allowed to express their grievances.
“It is the government’s duty to provide security. If the police are unavailable, then the military should step in,” Chaponda said.
Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu told ‘Times New Talk’ Monday that any act of political violence, whether it is targeting government or the opposition, does not please Chakwera.
Kunkuyu added that Chakwera respects various government institutions that have been tasked to do various jobs, including the provision of security.
“Malawians will regret it one day when we will have President who will be a protector, police officer, Police Inspector General, Minister of Homeland Security and judge in one person.
“But, now, what we should be looking at is how various government institutions are running. Those who are not doing their job, you as the media should have some interest in taking them to task—asking them a question to say ‘what have you done at your level?’. The same as you take to task the Ministry of Agriculture when you want to hear more about AIP [Affordable Inputs Programme] the Ministry of Energy when you want to hear more about fuel issues,” Kunkuyu said.
MPS spokesperson Peter Kalaya said he would comment on the issue once he received a full report on the matter.
“I am yet to receive a report on what transpired in town today [yesterday]. I will comment when I get a full report.” Kalaya said.
Among other things, Cdedi organised the demonstrations to demand the firing of government officials it blamed for failing to tame the fuel crisis.
