By Suleman Chitera
A Parliament Under Siege
What should have been the safest ground for lawmakers—the Parliament of Malawi—was turned into a zone of intimidation during the regime of outgoing President Lazarus Chakwera and his Malawi Congress Party (MCP). The shocking attack on Honourable Grace Kwelepeta’s car, whose tyres were deliberately punctured by political thugs, has become a chilling symbol of the lawlessness and targeted harassment that defined Chakwera’s reign.
The Attack That Raised Alarms
Honourable Kwelepeta’s vehicle was vandalized right within parliamentary grounds—where security personnel are stationed and cameras monitor movement. Yet, despite this, no arrests have been made. Insiders allege the attackers acted with impunity because they were connected to the ruling elite, emboldened by a culture of political protectionism under the MCP.
“This was not an accident. It was a message—a warning meant to silence and intimidate,” one opposition lawmaker told this investigation.
MCP’s Trail of Intimidation
The attack fits into a broader pattern of atrocities under Chakwera’s MCP rule. Opposition members, journalists, and even civil society activists have documented cases of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and property damage. Far from being a “servant leadership,” Chakwera’s administration is accused of weaponizing state machinery to instill fear and crush dissent.
Governance analysts argue that the police, under pressure from MCP, often turned a blind eye when ruling party cadres were involved in violence. The silence around Kwelepeta’s case is, therefore, not surprising but deeply troubling.
Police Complicity Through Inaction
The Malawi Police Service’s failure to act has raised serious concerns about its independence. If Parliament itself could not be safeguarded, critics ask, what about ordinary citizens across the country? The police, critics say, became an instrument of selective justice—swift to arrest government critics but curiously idle when MCP loyalists were implicated in wrongdoing.
A Dark Legacy for Chakwera
Outgoing President Lazarus Chakwera, who once campaigned on promises of unity and integrity, leaves behind a legacy tainted by intimidation and political violence. The attack on Kwelepeta’s car is more than just vandalism—it is a glaring example of the MCP’s tolerance, if not outright sponsorship, of thuggery during its time in power.
“Chakwera and his MCP allowed Malawi to slide backwards,” a governance watchdog noted. “They spoke of the rule of law, but in practice, they presided over a culture of fear.”
The Call for Justice
As Malawi transitions into new leadership, the demand is clear: those who attacked Honourable Grace Kwelepeta must be arrested and prosecuted, no matter their political connections. For too long, MCP’s atrocities have gone unanswered. This case is now a litmus test for whether Malawi will finally confront impunity or continue the vicious cycle of silence.
