A tense showdown is building between the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and the Malawi Police Service over a planned July 1 road protest that could disrupt movement along the Karonga–Chiweta stretch of the M1.
At the center of the standoff, is HRDC’s announcement that it plans to block the Karonga-Chiweta road to pressure the government into speeding up rehabilitation of the damaged section, which has become a major concern for motorists and businesses
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) on Friday said it is ready to keep the road open and has vowed to arrest anyone who attempts to disrupt the free movement of people, goods and services on July 1.
In a Saturday statement, HRDC has dismissed the police warning against the planned demonstrations, insisting that the action is lawful and grounded in the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
HRDC says it has already fulfilled legal requirements by notifying the Rumphi District Council and the Malawi Police Service about the planned peaceful demonstrations, stressing that the law requires notification, not permission.
“The planned demonstrations are a peaceful exercise of constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” HRDC said. “We have complied with the law by duly notifying the authorities; the law requires notification, not permission,” the coalition added.
According to the coalition, the right to peaceful assembly and expression cannot be controlled by discretion of authorities, arguing that Malawi remains a constitutional democracy where rights must be protected, not restricted.
The group has further argued that the role of the Malawi Police Service is to facilitate peaceful demonstrations while ensuring order, not to block lawful protests simply because they may inconvenience authorities or traffic flow.
HRDC has warned that treating lawful demonstrations as activities requiring approval risks undermining constitutional freedoms that form the foundation of Malawi’s democracy.
At the heart of the planned action is the deteriorating state of the Karonga–Chiweta Road, which HRDC says has caused deaths, slowed down business activities, and worsened hardships for communities along the northern M1 corridor.
The coalition says repeated concerns and assurances over the road have not translated into real action, leaving residents of Karonga, Rumphi, Chitipa and Mzimba with no option but to resort to public demonstrations.
HRDC has however expressed willingness to engage authorities, but insists dialogue must lead to tangible solutions rather than repeated promises that do not address the crisis on the ground.
The group has called on the Malawi Police Service to act within constitutional limits and ensure that any security measures respect citizens’ rights to assemble peacefully and lawfully.
