Malawi’s reputation has been tarnished following violent attacks on peaceful protesters in Lilongwe on Thursday, prompting strong condemnation from governance experts and the international community.
Good governance expert George Chaima has decried the brutality, stating that the events not only violated democratic values but also damaged the image of a nation once seen as a beacon of peace and constitutional order in the region.
“These actions reflect a serious decline in our commitment to democracy and human rights,” Chaima said, referring to footage and reports showing unidentified assailants beating demonstrators while law enforcement and military officers allegedly stood by.
Chaima was responding to a joint statement issued by seven diplomatic missions: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Iceland, and Finland, which expressed deep concern over the attacks and called for swift accountability.
“It is disappointing that a few individuals are trying to destroy the democracy our forefathers fought and died for,” he said.
While many observers accuse the police and soldiers of inaction, Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya defended the security forces, claiming officers deployed tear gas to disperse the attackers and rescue victims.
“It is not true that the police just watched. Without our intervention, some of those people could have been killed,” Kalaya told a local media outlet.
The Lilongwe incident has intensified calls for President Chakwera to dismiss the Inspector General of Police, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander, and the Minister of Homeland Security, Ezekiel Ching’oma.
