By Suleman Chitera Lilongwe, June 28, 2025
UTM President Dr. Dalitso Kabambe has described as “shocking and barbaric” the wounds and trauma sustained by human rights defender Sylvester Namiwa, who is recovering from a brutal panga knife attack during a peaceful demonstration in Lilongwe.
Kabambe made the remarks following a surprise visit to the clinic where Namiwa is receiving outpatient treatment. The activist, known for his fearless advocacy, was targeted and hacked by machete-wielding thugs in full view of law enforcement officers, in what many have called a disturbing display of impunity.
Inside a private consultation room, Namiwa—though still visibly weak—was able to narrate the horrifying moments of the attack. As he slowly unveiled the deep, freshly stitched gashes on his back and arms, Kabambe was visibly moved, shaking his head in disbelief at what he termed “a deliberate assault on democracy.”
“I am horrified by what I have seen,” Kabambe told reporters afterward. “This is not just an attack on Namiwa—it is an attack on every Malawian who dares to speak out. It is beyond shocking that such a crime could happen while the Malawi Police and Defence Force stood idly by. This is a betrayal of public trust.”
The incident has triggered national and international condemnation. Civil society groups, diplomatic missions, and human rights bodies have denounced the silence and inaction of the country’s security agencies during the attack. Images of Namiwa—bloodied, slumped, and surrounded by uniformed officers who failed to intervene—have gone viral, reigniting fears that Malawi’s democratic fabric is fraying.
At a separate press briefing in Blantyre, Kabambe again condemned the assault, branding it “unconstitutional, inhumane, and intolerable.” He called for an urgent investigation and demanded that those responsible—both the attackers and those who allowed it to happen—be brought to justice without delay.
“We cannot, and we will not, accept a Malawi where citizens are butchered like animals for simply demanding accountability,” he declared. “This country is built on the rule of law, not the rule of fear.”
Kabambe also warned that continued attacks on activists and journalists pose a grave threat to the freedoms enshrined in the nation’s Constitution and called on all democratic forces to unite in defending Malawi’s hard-won liberties.
As Namiwa continues his recovery, many are now looking to the government and security leadership for answers—and for action. Whether justice will be served remains a critical test for the country’s democratic institutions.
