By Vincent Gunde
The Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), has called on all Malawians, all democrats, and all who believe in freedom to rise and join it in condemning Malawi Congress Party (MCP) shameful attempt to silence opposition voices through blatant intimidation and dictatorial tactics.
The AFORD says the MCPs government instruction to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Malawi Police to obtain a search warrant for its President Enock Kamzingeni Chihana over party materials that were legally obtained, is an assault on democracy itself.
The party has described the move as a desperate and cowardly to stifle dissent, instilling fear and crushing opposition as elections loom on the horizon saying this is the time when Malawians need freedom of expression and opposition political discourse more than ever.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Annie Amatullah Maluwa dated 27th August, 2025 the AFORD says the MCP government is choosing to wield its power to muzzle critics and trample on the rights of opposition leaders like Enock Chihana.
The AFORD says the fact that search was carried out at the residence of Chihana in Lilongwe, is a vicious attempt to undermine democracy in Malawi, a betrayal of the people’s trust and a pathetic display of MCPs fear of facing the truth in free and fair elections.
“AFORD, the mother of Democracy in Malawi will not be silenced, intimidated, we will fight for the democratic rights of all Malawians to speak, to assemble, and to choose their leaders without fear of MCPs heavy hand,” reads the statement in part.
The AFORD has called on all Malawians to defend their democracy, the right to dissent, and defend the people of Malawi against MCPs authoritarian tactics, assuring the MCP that Malawians will not be afraid and they will not back down.
Meanwhile, political activist Bon Kalindo has advised opposition political parties to work together as one block against the dictatorial tendencies of the MCP of bringing back the country to a one-party state assuring them that what has started with Chihana, should be a lesson to all.
Kalindo has warned opposition party leaders that should they let the MCP and President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera bounce back on the 16th September, 2025 elections, they should brace themselves for more MCPs crackdown on them through arrests and prosecutions for various offences they previously committed in government.
