Malawi’s Catholic Bishops Denounce “lawless behaviour” ahead of September Polls, Urge Commitment to Love

Reports have indicated escalating violence and lawlessness in Malawi ahead of the 16 September 2025 general elections.

On February 26, vehicles belonging to opposition members of the Parliament were reportedly vandalized within the National Assembly compound, and a convoy of the president of the Alliance for Democracy party (AFORD) was reportedly attacked in Lilongwe.

In another report, the Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) denounced ongoing intimidation, lamenting that despite cameras capturing break-ins at MPs’ cars and the AFORD president’s convoy attack, no arrests were made.

Amid all these, civil society groups have urged demonstrators, political parties, and security services to reject violence and engage in peaceful dialogue, stressing that unchecked aggression undermines trust ahead of voting.

CSEIF has further warned that law enforcement agencies’ failure to act could provoke vigilante actions and escalate disorder, calling instead for thorough investigations and accountability.

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In the June 27 statement, Malawi’s Catholic Bishops urge the people of God in the country to remember the “precious and fragile nature of freedom and peace.”

“As citizens of Malawi look ahead to the general elections scheduled for 16 September 2025, we urge them to honour democratic institutions and processes, and to obey, honour, and sustain the law,” MCCB members say.

They denounce criminal activities, which they say have infiltrated protests in the Southern African nation ahead of the polls and urge “all security agencies not to abrogate their duty by turning a blind eye” to such activities.

Such behaviour, MCCB members say, “not only fuels impunity but also erodes public trust in them and leads to the so-called ‘mob justice’. We strongly urge politicians in general, and leaders of political parties in particular, to refrain from inciting violence among their supporters.”

“Political violence has never been a solution to differing political beliefs and ideologies,” MCCB members say, and continue, “Regardless of the scale and number of the evil acts of violence, we have seen in the past months/days, peaceful co-existence among people of different political views is possible.”

They say that “commitment to peace must be a priority for all of us in the days to come as we approach the general elections.”

“We strongly appeal to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to always fulfil its duty in a way that builds trust among political parties and the public concerning the forthcoming elections,” MCCB members say.

They direct that “special prayers for peaceful elections be said in all Catholic churches on Sunday, July 6.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.