“No party is above the law, let Malawians decide” — PEFENAP warns as campaign period begins
The Peoples Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP) has issued a strong call to political parties to uphold the rule of law and respect the will of the people, as Malawi officially entered the campaign period on Monday, July 14, ahead of the September 16 general elections.
Speaking in an interview amid growing political tensions, PEFENAP Executive Director Edward Chaka described the current political environment as volatile and cautioned against attempts to manipulate the democratic process.
“We have seen some testimonies of volatile political climate prior to September 16th,” said Chaka. “There is no political party which is above the constitutional law (Elections) in Malawi.”
Chaka emphasized that attempts to resist public demand for change are futile, pointing to Malawi’s political history as proof that no government is immune to the will of the people.
“My advice should specifically go to MCP, DPP, there were times where all Malawians thought change was inevitable when Kamuzu was in Power. People chant for change the same with today’s environment,” he added. “We would like to remind politicians that change is inevitable. Let Malawi decide for themselves on the polling date.”
He warned that political leaders should not take advantage of institutional weaknesses, including the controversial decision by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to block an independent audit of the voters’ roll, a move that has sparked national concern.
Chaka attributed the surge in political violence to a combination of economic hardship, corruption, social inequality, and declining trust in political and electoral institutions. He said people are frustrated, angry and desperate for a better life. However Instead of addressing these issues, some politicians are stoking division.
PEFENAP, in collaboration with other peacebuilding and civic education organisations, has intensified efforts to prepare both citizens and institutions for a peaceful electoral process. As part of these efforts, PEFENAP has facilitated the confiscation of illegal weapons, with the official disposal exercise scheduled to take on 31 July, 2025.
Chaka concluded by stressing that peace is not merely the absence of violence, but the presence of justice, equality, and freedom.
