Civil society organisations and rights activists in Malawi have expressed outrage over the police’s failure to arrest those responsible for violence during peaceful demonstrations on June 26.
The protests, organised by Citizens for Credible Elections and led by Sylvester Namiwa, turned violent when Namiwa was attacked by panga-wielding men at the Lilongwe Community Centre grounds, in full view of police and Malawi Defence Force officers.
Two months after the incident, no arrests have been made, prompting concern among rights groups. Charles Kajoloweka, executive director of Youth and Society, said the inaction was unsurprising given what he described as the “state of partisanship of police today.”
“Unless you get an independent police and sound leadership at the Malawi Police Service, this will continue,” Kajoloweka said.
Benedicto Kondowe, board chairperson of the National Advocacy Platform, called the police delay “alarming.”
He cited a previous attack on Democratic Progressive Party members at Mbowe Service Station in February 2024 as another example of law enforcement inaction.
“This delay is more than bureaucratic sluggishness, it signals a dangerous culture of selective justice and political shielding,” Kondowe said.
Michael Kaiyatsa, executive director of the Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation, added that the lack of police action raises serious questions about the authorities’ commitment to upholding justice and protecting civic space.
Efforts to obtain a comment from National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya on the status of investigations were unsuccessful.
The delay has sparked wider debate in Malawi about accountability, the independence of law enforcement, and the protection of citizens’ rights during political demonstrations. Activists warn that continued inaction risks normalising violence against civil society and undermining public confidence in the justice system.
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