Leader of opposition in Parliament George Chaponda has demanded assurances regarding the safety of opposition members of Parliament, who he said are being targeted and attacked right here on the premises.
In a statement marking the conclusion of the 16th day of deliberation in the first meeting of 51st session of Parliament, Chaponda further said the Inspector General of Police should rise to the occasion and resist being used for political purposes.
‘The opposition, feel it is important to express our concerns about the current governance under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). As many of you are aware, the country is facing numerous challenges, and we are convinced that these challenges stem from the incompetence of the current leadership.
“On Thursday, 20th March 2025, I raised a critical issue regarding the missing names of voters in the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) database, a matter that surfaced during the voter transfer exercise conducted by the MEC. This is a serious issue that must be treated with the utmost urgency and attention. In response, the Minister of Justice claimed that the issue was premature, and that only 8 names were missing from the database. We find this response unsatisfactory and will not relent in our demand for an independent audit of the voters’ roll by qualified and independent ICT professionals. We expect the Malawi Electoral Commission to address the nation on this matter and provide clear guidance on the process for an independent audit of the voters’ roll.
“In addition, the Hon. Member of Parliament for Mulanje Bale raised another national concern regarding political violence, which continues to occur under the watch of the Malawi Police Service. A particularly disturbing incident occurred on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, when civil servants attempted to demonstrate for higher salaries and allowances. Civil servants are crucial stakeholders in our country, as they are responsible for public service delivery. Any attempt to harm them is an attack on the very public services that sustain our nation.
“The MCP youths who attacked these civil servants are the same individuals who previously attacked Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters after they attended a court hearing in Dowa to support Hon. Alfred Gangata. These same youths have also been involved in violent incidents in Lilongwe, Mponela, and other areas. In response, the Minister of the responsible department shockingly blamed both the MCP and the DPP for the violence. Let it be clear that, while perpetrators of violence have been arrested for their violent actions in the southern regions, there is no evidence linking DPP supporters to any such acts. In contrast, despite knowing the identities of the perpetrators who attacked DPP supporters, who attacked civil servants, who attacked AFORD supporters, who damaged MP’s vehicles, no arrests have been made. This failure to act further highlights the MCP’s role in inciting violence, and we firmly believe that the MCP must be held accountable.
“As the opposition, we demand that the Malawi Police Service perform their duties professionally and impartially. At present, we have lost confidence in the Police, as we believe they are being manipulated by the ruling MCP, rather than serving the interests of all Malawians.
“Lastly, as you are aware, we walked out of Parliament this morning in solidarity with our two female parliamentarians whose vehicles were damaged by MCP youths who accompanied President Chakwera to Parliament. It has been almost a month since this incident, and we are deeply disappointed by the Speaker’s office’s
“failure to act on the proposal I made to assist the two MPs. I personally wrote to Parliament requesting help in repairing their vehicles and providing alternative transport arrangements, so they could continue to attend sessions. Unfortunately, no action has been taken, and our members continue to suffer as a result. We will persist in urging the Speaker to act until these MPs receive the support they deserve.
“In conclusion, we call on the Speaker’s office to ensure impartiality in its handling of matters in the House. We also seek assurances regarding the safety of opposition members of Parliament, who are being targeted and attacked right here on the premises. Our final demand is directed at the Inspector General of Police: we expect you to rise to the occasion and resist being used for political purposes. Your duty is to serve and protect the people of Malawi, not any political party,” he said
