Parliament holds a central role in a democratic system as the institution tasked with ensuring checks and balances on the executive, judiciary, and security forces.
In Malawi, recent incidents of brutality and political violence—often in full view of the police or allegedly involving military personnel—have raised serious questions about the extent and effectiveness of legislative oversight on the country’s security apparatus.
The legislature is empowered by the Constitution to summon, investigate, and even censure any branch of government that appears to operate outside the bounds of the law.
However, in the face of growing reports of police inaction, military bias, and abuse of power during demonstrations or politically charged events, Parliament has been disturbingly silent or slow to act.
Committees such as the Defence and Security Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee, and the Public Appointments Committee have a duty not just to rubber-stamp executive decisions, but to actively interrogate patterns of misconduct and prevent systemic abuse.
Yet, there is little to no evidence of Parliament initiating substantive inquiries into the recent spate of politically motivated violence or summoning security chiefs for questioning in open hearings.
Such inaction risks emboldening impunity within the ranks of security forces, who may interpret legislative silence as tacit approval of their controversial actions.
It also erodes public trust in democratic institutions, particularly among citizens who expect Parliament to be the voice of the voiceless and a shield against unchecked state power.
To address this democratic gap, Parliament must consider launching formal inquiries into the conduct of the police and military in recent incidents of violence, particularly where there is evidence of collusion or deliberate negligence.
These inquiries should be transparent, involve public hearings, and include testimonies from victims, witnesses, civil society, and independent experts.
Additionally, Parliament should strengthen internal reporting mechanisms and require security agencies to submit regular reports on operations involving crowd control, arrests, and the use of force.
There is also need for legislative reforms that impose stricter accountability standards on security agencies, including personal liability for commanders who fail to prevent abuse under their watch.
Beyond investigations, MPs must be vocal in condemning violence and demanding action from the executive branch whenever state organs are implicated in rights violations.
Failure to do so would reduce Parliament to a ceremonial institution, unable to defend the rule of law or protect citizens from the very institutions meant to safeguard them.
Democracy cannot thrive where Parliament is timid, security forces are unaccountable, and abuses are met with silence instead of scrutiny.
The time has come for Malawi’s Parliament to rise to its constitutional mandate—not just as a law-making body, but as a watchdog against tyranny and injustice.
