This week, the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) officially opened the campaign period for the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. What it means is that, for the next two months, Malawians will have to endure desperate politicians trying to find their way into seats of power. For them, it is the time to craft convincing lies and empty promises, as they always do. And, in all of this, there is very little to nothing for the average Malawian, who will only receive a few handouts while being a victim of the political violence that will most likely spice up the campaign.
In recent years, violence has become part of our politics and we seem not to be bothered with this. With every election, blood has been shed and sometimes systematic killings have been linked to elections, where it is claimed that politicians may kill for rituals. Those who have lived long enough can bear witness to hearing such rumours from way back when women in Chiradzulu District were killed for their breasts. The rampant killings of people with albinism a few years ago was also somehow linked to politics by some courts of public opinion. While these may be speculative, there are certain forms of violence that are directly politically motivated, and that’s where the authorities need to pay attention.
What is dangerously worrisome as we approach the polls this year is that the State President and his cabin crew seem not to be very bothered with political violence. A recent example is what we witnessed a few weeks ago when some protesters were mercilessly beaten by thugs while the Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force watched. This was not the first time we were witnessing this recently. Violence and thuggery have been ingrained into the system and they have become a way of consolidating power. As such, we should not be surprised when we see inaction from those who were supposed to protect us.
As most have already complained, it is not enough for the President to just condemn these callous actions by mere word of mouth. Such acts of violence have to be met with tangible action if we are to ensure peaceful campaigns in the coming months. The fact that no one has ever been arrested since we first witnessed such kinds of violence tells you that these thugs are welcome and protected. Talking about ending or addressing violence without taking the requisite action has never worked in this country, or anywhere else. But sitting back and watching things has been business as usual for this regime. If there is anything that its top leadership will be remembered for, then it is inaction.
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Sometimes we need to borrow a leaf from those around us. A good example would be what has recently happened in South Africa. One of the police commissioners there – Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi – made serious allegations of corruption against top police officers and a Cabinet minister. As soon as this happened, the State President, Cyril Ramaphosa, made a statement acknowledging receipt of the allegations and went on to suspend the accused to pave the way for investigations into the matter. Whether the investigations will be sincere and unveil the truth is subject to debate, but the one thing for sure is that there is visible action from the President. Such action not only restores hope for justice in the common people; it also deters would-be offenders as they know that the authorities won’t look the other way. This is something that is lacking in our country and we have become a haven for criminality.
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As we venture into this season of madness, lies and histrionics, our law enforcers must at least operate with a sense of responsibility and professionalism. It becomes embarrassing to watch State agencies being compromised and sacrificed at the altar of political savagery. It is also the duty of political leaders from both the governing party and the opposition to ensure that we act civilised. We have mostly approached multiparty politics from an angle of barbarism, albeit from our misunderstanding of this concept at the point of adoption. Our understanding of ndale has led us to a madhouse of tricks and snares. As we speak, machetes are being sharpened, ready for campaign.
