By Suleman Chitera Lilongwe, Malawi – June 27, 2025
The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the State’s failure to protect peaceful demonstrators, demanding the immediate dismissal of Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma and Inspector General of Police Merlyn Yolamu for what it calls “gross incompetence” and a “betrayal of constitutional duty.”
window.yaContextCb.push(()=>{Ya.Context.AdvManager.render({"blockId":"R-A-16039748-3","type":"fullscreen","platform":"touch"})})1503758-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48323"/>This follows disturbing scenes in the capital, Lilongwe, where demonstrators participating in a peaceful march organized by Citizens for Credible Elections (CCE) were violently attacked by panga-wielding thugs. The attackers descended on the protestors in full view of Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) personnel, who reportedly did nothing to intervene.
In a statement signed by MLS President Davis Mthakati Njobvu and Honorary Secretary Francis Ekari M’mame, the legal body accused the country’s top security leadership of aiding the suppression of constitutionally protected rights.
“The Minister has demonstrably failed to uphold the constitutional discipline and conduct expected of the police service,” reads part of the statement, citing Section 153(4) of the Constitution.
The Society further argued that Inspector General Merlyn Yolamu violated Section 154 by failing to ensure that police action — or inaction — was impartial, lawful, and in the interest of public safety.
MLS insists that the shocking inaction of security personnel amounts to a tacit endorsement of political violence and undermines citizens’ freedom of assembly and expression.
“State power derives from the people and must be exercised lawfully and for public benefit,” the statement continued. “Cosmetic responses and silence from government officials only deepen the wound to our democracy.”
The protests were aimed at pressuring Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Anabel Ntalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi to resign over alleged mismanagement and loss of public trust.
Tragically, Sylvester Namiwa, the lead organiser of the protests and Executive Director of CCE, was among those seriously injured in the attack. He is currently receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital for deep cuts and bruises sustained during the assault.
Rights groups, civil society organizations, and opposition parties have since echoed MLS’s call, warning that failure to take decisive action will set a dangerous precedent for future civic engagement.
As of now, there has been no official comment from either the Ministry of Homeland Security or the Inspector General’s office regarding the MLS demands.
