…..CSOs push for full Probe into panga violence networks
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil society organizations and human rights activists have renewed calls for a comprehensive investigation into the networks behind Malawi’s past political violence, insisting that the country cannot claim progress while those suspected of financing and coordinating panga-wielding gangs remain untouched.
The organizations, led by HRCC Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba and FND Coordinator Fryson Chodzi, told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Friday that uauthorities must to go beyond prosecuting the foot soldiers and begin examining the powerful figures who allegedly orchestrated and protected the violence.
The CSOs argue that recent arrests of suspected zikwanje members represent only the first step toward meaningful justice.
According to them, Malawi’s darkest period of politically motivated intimidation was too organized, too well funded and too widespread to have been executed by youths acting independently.
They insist that the real architects of the violence must be identified, interrogated and made accountable, if the country is to break the entrenched culture of political terror.
Their renewed demand follows persistent allegations linking certain political operatives, including Annabel, to the coordination or sponsorship of panga-carrying groups.
While no court has yet established her involvement, the CSOs believe that her name’s frequent appearance in community reports and security briefings warrants a formal investigation.
They emphasized that their intention is not to prejudge anyone but to ensure that every allegation is handled transparently and in accordance with the law.
The rights groups further a stressed that Malawi must reject selective justice.
The grouping however warned that focusing solely on the young men who physically carried out the attacks, while ignoring the individuals who allegedly mobilized, funded or shielded them, risks reinforcing the same impunity that has fueled political violence for decades.
The CSOs further noted that many of the violent incidents witnessed before and after the 2025 elections showed patterns of coordination indicating substantial logistical support and protection from influential actors.
The rights groups also highlighted concerns about possible foreign involvement in the supply of weapons and logistical assistance to these groups, describing this dimension as a direct threat to national sovereignty.
They urged government agencies to follow all credible leads, fortify intelligence systems and ensure that no foreign national or local collaborator escapes accountability where evidence exists.
Mkwezalamba and Chodzi underscored that Malawi has reached a defining moment in its democratic journey.
The groupings said the country must confront the full truth about how political violence was financed and sustained and must ensure that all suspects including those with political connections are subjected to the same legal scrutiny as ordinary citizens.
Ending political violence, they argued, requires the political will to pursue justice not only against the perpetrators seen in courtrooms but also against those who operated behind the scenes.
They warned that without a deliberate effort to dismantle the networks that armed and protected zikwanje gangs, Malawi risks repeating the same cycle of intimidation and fear in future elections.
The activists concluded by reminding authorities that justice must travel upward, not just sideways and that the credibility of the justice system will be judged by its willingness to investigate all individuals named in connection with political terror including Annabel.
The post Malawi CSOs side with State in prosecuting suspected MCP regime’s panga-wielding thugs appeared first on The Maravi Post.