Press Statement on Acts of Violence and Apparent Inaction and Cosmetic Action by The State and Its Security Agencies
The Malawi Law Society (“Society”) has a statutory mandate under section 64(d) of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act “to protect matters of public interest touching, ancillary or incidental to law”.
Further to its statement issued on 12 May 2025, the Society issues this public statement in response to the continuing reports of escalating violence, alongside the apparent inaction and cosmetic response by the State and its security agents.
- The Society has observed through reputable media reports that demonstrations organised by the Citizens for Credible Elections in various parts of the country on 26 June 2025 were marred by violence perpetrated by panga-wielding individuals, leaving some organisers and participants injured and/or maimed. The Society calls upon the Malawi Police Service to immediately trace and bring to justice those responsible.
- The Society notes that this is not an isolated incident. Violence has repeatedly been unleashed against those who have sought to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and other allied rights.
- The Society considers this inaction by the State and its security agents to be a calculated suppression of the right to freedom of assembly under section 38 of the Constitution, including violations of other fundamental rights.
- The Society emphasizes that under section 15(1) of the Constitution, the human rights and freedoms contained in Chapter Four must be respected and upheld by all branches of Government, its organs, and agencies.
- The Society calls upon the State President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, to immediately relieve the Minister of Homeland Security, Mr. Ezekiel Ching’oma, of his duties.
- The Society further calls upon the State President to immediately relieve the Inspector General of Police, Marilyn Yolamu, of her duties, citing concerns regarding competence and impartiality.
- The Society reminds the State President and all those exercising State power that authority derives from the people of Malawi and must be exercised within the confines of the law for the benefit of the people.
Issued this 26th day of June 2025.
Davis Mthakati Njobvu
CHAIRMAN
Francis Ekari M’mame
HONORARY SECRETARY