By Burnett Munthali
Some of the thugs that have been hacking and beating up protestors in Lilongwe over the past two years are known to the police.
This revelation raises serious questions about the state of law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights in Malawi’s capital city. If the individuals perpetrating acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators are already identified by police authorities, why have they not been arrested or prosecuted?
The very mention that these thugs are “known” implies an established pattern of impunity and possibly a troubling relationship between law enforcers and perpetrators. It suggests that the security apparatus might be turning a blind eye, or worse, enabling the suppression of dissent.
Over the past two years, Lilongwe has seen numerous protests—mostly by citizens demanding accountability, better governance, or protesting economic hardship. The use of violence to quell these protests undermines Malawi’s democratic values and constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly and expression.
Victims of these violent attacks have spoken out, some bearing physical scars and psychological trauma. Yet their calls for justice have often been met with silence or indifference, further eroding public trust in the Malawi Police Service.
The fact that these thugs continue to operate despite being known raises alarms about selective justice, a culture of fear, and state-sponsored or state-condoned intimidation tactics against civic activism.
This development calls for urgent action. Human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and the Malawi Human Rights Commission must demand accountability from the police. Parliament must also press the executive for answers: Who are these individuals? Why haven’t they been arrested? And what is being done to ensure the safety of protestors?
In a democratic society, protest is not a crime. Violence against protestors, especially when shielded by state inaction, is an assault on the very soul of the nation.
Malawians deserve better. Justice must not only be done—it must be seen to be done. And that begins with confronting the ugly truth that some perpetrators of political violence are walking free with full knowledge of those who are supposed to uphold the law.
