Malawi: As political violence escalates, Malawians are asking: why is our president silent?

On By Pranco

The scenes that unfolded in Lilongwe yesterday paint a chilling picture of political violence in Malawi – scenes that should have no place in a democracy. Once again, the Malawian public witnessed a disturbing attack on their right to protest peacefully, as armed police and a group of masked assailants, carrying pangas and other weapons, brutally attacked unarmed protesters. This disturbing episode, which occurred for the second time in just two weeks, raises a critical question: why is President Lazarus Chakwera silent in the face of such political violence?

The violence that erupts

The protest, organized by the Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi), was aimed at expressing public outrage over the government’s handling of the energy crisis and the apparent ineffectiveness of leaders such as Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola and the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) CEO Henry Kachaje. The protesters, holding banners with messages such as “The government has no idea” and calling for the resignation of key government officials, had gathered at the Lilongwe Community Center Ground, ready to march through the streets of the capital to voice their concerns .

What followed was an aggressive show of force from both law enforcement and an unknown group of civilians. The demonstrators were not only met with tear gas from the police, but were also attacked by a group of eighty masked men carrying weapons: sticks, knives and pangas. The group of thugs attacked the protesters, with police officers seemingly powerless to intervene or, in some cases, actively protect the armed men.

Sylvester Namiwa, executive director of Cdedi, condemned both the police and the armed attackers, accusing the police of siding with criminals instead of upholding the constitutional rights of peaceful protesters. In a scathing statement, Namiwa said: “We are all guilty as citizens. We appear to have accepted the state’s decision to embark on this dangerous path of police protecting criminals at the expense of voters and the constitutional rights of taxpayers.”

Despite the violent police response and the ensuing chaos, including street fights and roadblocks, the demonstrators refused to back down. They regrouped and continued to express their discontent, even as police officers and armed civilians tried to disperse them. Vehicles entering the old city were diverted, causing disruptions and traffic chaos. Tires were burned and Malawians showed the world that they were not willing to be intimidated.

The role of the president: why the silence?

Amid these violent clashes, the question arises: where is President Chakwera in all this? Since taking office, Chakwera has repeatedly pledged to defend the rights of Malawians and ensure that the country’s democracy does not fall victim to oppression. However, these recent events indicate a failure of leadership: a failure to act against political violence and ensure that citizens’ democratic rights are protected.

Chakwera’s silence on this issue is deafening. Not only did he not directly address the role of police in enabling violence against protesters, but there was also no comment on the masked attackers – armed with pangas and knives – who roamed the streets freely without consequence. Why are these individuals allowed to attack innocent Malawians without being arrested or prosecuted? And why hasn’t Chakwera made public statements condemning these actions and calling for accountability?

The dangerous precedent

This silence sets a dangerous precedent. By failing to condemn police brutality and political violence, Chakwera risks undermining public confidence in his government. Malawians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with a leadership that appears more interested in maintaining political control than upholding the constitutional rights of its citizens. The president’s failure to respond to these increasing incidents of violence shows either indifference or tacit approval, neither of which is acceptable in a democracy.

The silence also speaks to a larger problem within the Tanse government: its inability to address internal issues such as corruption, cronyism and abuse of power. How can the public trust a government that fails to take swift action against political violence, when the very forces meant to protect citizens are complicit in their suffering?