Chaos broke out at the Lilongwe Community Ground this morning as men wielding pangas dispersed people gathering for a planned opposition demonstration. The protests, organized by opposition parties and civil society groups, were set to begin at this location but were quickly disrupted by the armed group. Although police officers were present, they reportedly watched without intervening.
This disruption follows a letter from Lilongwe District Commissioner Lawford Palani, sent yesterday to opposition political parties and several concerned civil society organizations, urging them to reschedule the demonstration. In his statement, Palani cited a lack of sufficient police resources, explaining that the Malawi Police Service would not be able to provide adequate security due to overstretched personnel.
The demonstration is aimed at pressuring the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to discontinue the use of Election Management Devices (EMD) provided by the tech company Smartmatic. Additionally, protesters are calling for the resignation of MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja, MEC Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, and National Registration Bureau (NRB) Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo. Opposition leaders argue that these officials and the technology they have engaged are undermining the transparency and fairness of Malawi’s electoral process.
Despite Palani’s call to delay the protest, opposition parties and activists moved forward, leading to heightened tensions at the gathering site. Witnesses reported that the men with pangas aggressively chased away anyone attempting to join the protest, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion among would-be participants.
The police’s lack of intervention has raised concerns over whether authorities are willing or able to ensure the safety of citizens during the demonstrations. Rights groups are calling for accountability and for law enforcement to uphold the public’s right to peacefully assemble. As the situation unfolds, opposition leaders have yet to decide on alternative plans, but the disruptive start highlights the challenges they face in pursuing their demands.
