…says MCP sidelined by Kamuzu family, not State
The Malawi government has defended the Malawi Police Service following the chaos that erupted during Kamuzu Day commemorations in Lilongwe, saying police acted lawfully to stop an unsanctioned march by opposition supporters.
In a statement released on Friday, government spokesperson and Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Shadric Namalomba, said police acted professionally when they blocked a march by members of the Malawi Congress Party to the Kamuzu Mausoleum.
Namalomba said the government holds deep respect for the legacy of Malawi’s founding president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, but rejected allegations by the MCP that authorities deliberately sidelined the party from the commemorations.
According to the statement, the event was organized by former minister Ken Kandodo and the Kamuzu family, not the government. President Peter Mutharika, who had been invited as the guest of honour, delegated Minister of Culture Alfred Gangata to represent him after failing to attend personally.
“The decision to exclude the MCP was made by Hon. Kandodo and the Kamuzu family. Government had nothing to do with it,” reads part of the statement.
The government further said the official commemoration was open to all Malawians on condition that participants avoided political regalia to preserve the event’s national character.
However, authorities accused the MCP of organizing a separate march without clearance from the Malawi Police Service and Lilongwe City Council.
Namalomba said the gathering violated public assembly regulations and posed a risk of public disorder and “desecration of the Mausoleum.”
“Faced with an unlawful assembly, the Police acted with professionalism and restraint. No one, including any political party, is exempt from the law,” he said.
He added that the requirement to notify authorities before holding public assemblies is a lawful procedure aimed at maintaining order and not suppressing political activities.
“The MCP’s failure to follow this process was a choice. The consequences were entirely of their own making,” said Namalomba.
The government has since called on political parties and the public to respect laws governing public gatherings to avoid violence and maintain peace during national commemorations.
