By Burnett Munthali | Malawi Freedom Network
Vice President Dr Michael Usi delivered a fiery and fearless message during a whistle stop tour.
Addressing a charged crowd, he asked, “If they kill me, will they eat me?”
The crowd responded in unison, “No!”
One person among them exclaimed, “You want to kill Michael Usi? What hasn’t he done? No, you can’t do that.”
Shortly afterward, an audio recording was played in which a male voice could be heard speaking.
In the recording, the voice said, “Dala Kadula, musalole zimenezo, muwauze Phakamisa nkhani imeneyi, musayitenge.”
The voice continued, “Nkhani imeneyi ndayimva four days ago pa forum paja.”
It went on to say, “Anyamata nonse muuzane.”
The tone became more threatening as the speaker said, “Ee Manganya asowe, eee Manganya must be disciplined.”
The voice concluded, “Eeee Manganya asokoneza, aulula zinsinsi.”
Following the audio, a reggae hit by The Black Missionaries began to play in the background.
The song was “Ndilibe Nanu Chifukwa.”
Constitutional Context and Analysis
Under Section 19(1) of the Constitution of Malawi, every person has the right to life.
Section 19(2) guarantees the right to personal liberty and security.
The threats implied in the audio recording, if genuine, represent a potential criminal offense under the Penal Code, specifically provisions relating to conspiracy to commit murder and incitement to violence.
Furthermore, Section 12(1)(a) of the Constitution establishes that all legal and political authority must be exercised to serve and protect the rights of all Malawians.
Targeting the Vice President — an elected constitutional officeholder under Section 79 — not only threatens his personal security but also undermines the integrity of the executive office.
Historical precedent in Malawi, including the harassment of past vice presidents such as Joyce Banda, demonstrates the dangers of political intimidation as a tool to weaken constitutional offices.
This incident, especially with an audio record in circulation, requires immediate and impartial investigation by state security agencies.
If ignored, it risks setting a precedent that threats to high-ranking officials can go unpunished, weakening the rule of law.
For the sake of democracy, transparency, and constitutional governance, Malawians must demand accountability, legal action, and unwavering protection of their leaders’ safety.
