Rights Group Denounces Political Violence Ahead of Malawi Election
The rights group appealed for political leaders to engage each other to find solutions, warning that sustained violence could undermine the legitimacy of next year's vote.
LILONGWE, Malawi— A leading human rights group issued an urgent appeal Monday for Malawi's political parties to end violence and lift "no-go zone" restrictions ahead of the 2025 presidential election, writes Winston Mwale.
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation condemned recent attacks on opposition supporters in Dowa and Lilongwe, saying "violence has no place in a democracy."
"Unless those responsible for these acts of violence are promptly brought to justice, violence will remain a strategy for political leaders in this country," said Michael Kaiyatsa, the group's executive director.
The statement cited disturbing social media videos in which party zealots declared some districts off-limits for rival parties and threatened violence against them. Kaiyatsa called creation of such "no-go zones" unjustified.
"All political parties should be free to campaign anywhere in Malawi without fear of being attacked," he said.
"Our democracy is based on the premise that all citizens have the right to freedom of association."
Police were urged to act impartially to break the cycle of violence between supporters of the Alliance for Democracy party and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
The rights group appealed for political leaders to engage each other to find solutions, warning that sustained violence could undermine the legitimacy of next year's vote.
It also called for an end to divisive rhetoric and personal insults.
"Politics is about competing ideas and yet, unfortunately, it is slowly becoming the new norm for political parties to engage in verbal wars, which is totally uncalled for," the statement said.