A peaceful demonstration in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, erupted into chaos on Thursday when masked assailants armed with machetes launched a violent attack on protesters. The incident, which occurred just two months before the country’s general election on September 16, left several individuals injured, including a police officer, and resulted in damage to public property.
The protest, organized by a civic group called Concerned Citizens for Credible Elections, took place in the commercial hub of Area 2. Demonstrators gathered to demand the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Judge Annabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, accusing both of aligning with the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and compromising the fairness of the electoral process.
Shortly after the demonstration began, unmarked vehicles arrived, and masked individuals emerged to assault protesters, focusing on the organizers. Witnesses reported that police and military personnel stationed nearby did not intervene as the violence unfolded. Images and videos of the attack quickly spread online, showing the masked men beating demonstrators while security forces stood by without taking action.
Among those seriously injured was Sylvester Namiwa, leader of the Concerned Citizens group. He described the incident as a “dark moment for our democracy,” stating that despite repeatedly calling for help, he was not assisted by the authorities present. “We held a peaceful protest, but we were brutally attacked in broad daylight while police and army personnel watched. They have a legal duty to protect citizens, but they chose to do nothing,” Namiwa said.
He further alleged that the electoral body is failing to operate independently, claiming that its top officials are acting in the interests of the ruling party. “They are not transparent as the election approaches, and their actions benefit one political party over others,” he added. Despite the violence, Namiwa affirmed the group’s commitment to continue protesting until electoral processes are handled fairly. “We will not be intimidated into silence. Every political party should be treated equally in this election,” he emphasized.
The Malawi Electoral Commission has denied accusations of bias but has not publicly addressed the events of the protest or the inaction of security forces during the attack.
Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya described the assault as “regrettable” and confirmed that an investigation has been launched. “We are working to identify those behind this attack and ensure they are held accountable,” Kalaya said. He acknowledged that multiple people, including a female officer, were injured and that several vehicles were set ablaze by unknown assailants.
The upcoming election is seen as highly competitive, taking place under the framework of a multiparty democracy restored in the early 1990s after decades of one-party rule. The violent disruption of Thursday’s demonstration has heightened concerns over political intimidation, security failures, and the impartiality of the electoral process as the country moves toward a critical vote.