EDITORIAL | The Forum
There is something troubling about the pattern of violence that follows elections in Malawi. Each time results are announced, frustration often turns into destruction.
President Peter Mutharika is currently staying at Mtunthama Residence after parts of Kamuzu Palace were vandalized in the aftermath of the September 16 elections. The damage, reportedly caused by Malawi Congress Party supporters, has again turned a symbol of national unity into a casualty of political anger.
This is not the first time a president has left Kamuzu Palace. In 2021, then-president Lazarus Chakwera also moved to Mtunthama, but that was for renovations, not because citizens had taken matters into their own hands.
Malawi must break this cycle. Damaging state property does not protest injustice; it deepens it. Accountability is not optional. Those found guilty of post-election violence should face the full weight of the law, both as a deterrent and as a statement that national institutions belong to all Malawians, not to political parties.
We aren’t going to repeat ourselves here. We’re keeping it short and sweet. Once might be a mistake. Twice is a choice. The country must now choose order over outrage.
