Peaceful Assembly
Election related protests face disruptions
On 13th November 2024, opposition protesters demanding electoral reforms were violently attacked by armed and masked thugs in Old Town (Lilongwe), leaving some injured. Police, who had earlier lobbed tear gas at protesters, stood by without intervening. Opposition parties blamed the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for orchestrating the attacks, alleging an effort to suppress dissent. MCP denied involvement, instead accusing the main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
A similar attack occurred on 25th November 2024, when masked men wielding machetes and clubs disrupted an anti-government protest in Lilongwe. The protest, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), was held to demand the resignation of Malawi’s Energy Minister over fuel shortages, and to oppose electronic voting in the 2025 elections over concerns that electronic voting could be used to rig elections in favour of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). As protesters attempted to gather, they were attacked and dispersed, with police later firing tear gas to break up confrontations. Witnesses accused the police of protecting the armed group instead of ensuring public safety. The ongoing fuel crisis caused by foreign exchange shortages has severely impacted transportation and food prices, worsening conditions for Malawians.
Civil society organisations have condemned these violent crackdowns, accusing the government of weaponising law enforcement to suppress dissent, further deepening economic grievances and eroding democratic freedoms ahead of the elections.
Expression
There is increasing concern that the Cybersecurity Act of 2016 is being used to suppress dissent. Reports also highlight a troubling trend of police detaining journalists and pressuring them to delete information from their devices, further undermining Freedom of Expression.
WhatsApp user convicted for WhatsApp voice notes
In October 2024, a court in Lilongwe sentenced 55-year-old Pastor Moses Shumba to 10 months in prison with hard labour, suspended for 18 months, for sharing offensive voice notes regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others in June 2024.
Shumba was accused of posting the voice notes in a WhatsApp group he created, alleging that the crash was deliberate. Initially, he denied the charge of Offensive Communication under Section 87 of the Cyber and Security Act but later changed his plea to guilty.
Although Pastor Shumba pleaded for leniency, the prosecutor argued that his statements could incite violence due to his role as a religious leader. Magistrate Amran Phiri agreed, condemning his actions and imposing the suspended sentence.
#Times360Malawi
— Times 360 Malawi (@Times360Malawi) December 3, 2024
Police officers from Blantyre Police Station briefly detained Times Group journalist Isaac Salima for capturing them in a video clip as they were trying to restore order at the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services in the city. pic.twitter.com/PH0mUwodie
Journalist arrested while filming
On 3rd December 2024, Blantyre police briefly detained Times Group journalist Isaac Salima for filming them while they were attempting to restore order at the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services, after a commotion ensued. He was taken to Blantyre Police Station where officers forced him to delete the pictures he had taken, before later releasing him.