By Burnett Munthali
The quasi-religious grouping, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) for their failure to protect citizens during demonstrations held in Lilongwe and other parts of the country today.
In a statement released this evening and signed by PAC chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale, the organisation expressed deep concern over what it described as a glaring security lapse that endangered the lives of peaceful demonstrators.
PAC warned that the current conduct of the police is deeply troubling and creates a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law and democratic freedoms.
According to the statement, the security forces’ failure to act decisively against violent thugs who attacked protestors raises suspicions that the ruling party may be complicit in orchestrating the violence.
PAC emphasized that had the perpetrators of the violence been from the opposition, the police would have acted swiftly and arrested those responsible.
The statement stressed that this pattern of selective policing points to possible political manipulation of the country’s security agencies.
PAC further warned that such developments erode public trust in institutions mandated to provide protection and enforce the law without bias.
Today’s demonstrations were organized by a civic group known as Citizens for Credible Elections, which has been vocal in calling for reforms within the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
The protesters are demanding the immediate resignation of MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi.
The group alleges that both Mtalimanja and Mpesi are compromised and therefore unfit to preside over any future electoral processes.
They argue that the credibility of the MEC has been irreparably damaged under the current leadership, and that the only way to restore public confidence is through their resignation.
Demonstrations were also held in other major cities including Blantyre and Mzuzu, underscoring the growing national concern over electoral integrity.
Eyewitnesses in Lilongwe reported that peaceful protesters were ambushed and assaulted by individuals armed with pangas, yet the police and military personnel deployed at the scene failed to intervene.
This brazen attack, in full view of security officers, has raised alarms about the neutrality and professionalism of Malawi’s law enforcement institutions.
PAC has called on the authorities to act with urgency and impartiality in bringing the perpetrators to justice, regardless of their political affiliation.
The committee urged Malawians to remain peaceful and steadfast in demanding accountability from both elected leaders and state institutions.
PAC’s statement is expected to fuel further debate on the politicization of the police and military, and whether the country’s democratic foundations are being slowly eroded.
As the nation awaits a response from the government, many are now calling for an independent investigation into the attacks and the role of security agencies during the protests.
