The Church and Society Programme of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod has denounced the current political climate, particularly the prevalence of violence and the premature backing of party candidates ahead of the upcoming September 2025 elections. In a statement entitled ‘Dissecting Malawi’s political landscape on the road to the 2025 Tripartite Elections’ endorsed by the program’s executive director, Master Jumbe, the synod’s monitoring body criticized the absence of internal party democracy, warning that it will stifle the voices and rights of other contenders and ordinary citizens during party conventions.
Additionally, it noted that party conventions, lacking adherence to the rule of law, have become customary rites used by political factions to eliminate their rivals. The statement highlights:
Reads the statement in part: “It is sad to note that endorsing candidates is becoming a determinant path to political party leadership.
“Whilst endorsement of candidates is not illegal, in our considered view, it is a political practice that renders noble values of health political competition and choice useless.”
The programme also denounced continued pockets of political violence among parties while faulting law enforcement agencies such as the Malawi Police Service (MPS) for cluelessness in dealing with perpetrators especially those from the ruling party.
Reads the statement: “Unfortunately our law enforcement agents seem to have no clue as to how to address the situations. Five years down the line police are still investigating thugs that torched two UTM Party vehicles in Mangochi on 18 August 2019.
“Police have not yet arrested any thugs connected to the political violence that took place last month in Zomba and Lilongwe.”
The ruling MCP and the main opposition DPP have already endorsed their presidential torchbearers.
