Amid growing concern over the Malawi government’s response to political violence, a senior opposition figure has announced plans for a peaceful protest in the capital, Lilongwe, this Friday, July 4.

Alfred Gangata, Central Region Vice President of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said in a statement addressed to the Lilongwe District Commissioner that the protest was being organized “in response to increasing acts of violence and intimidation that have undermined citizens’ right to peaceful assembly.

“Our message is simple: to stand against violence and to affirm every Malawian’s constitutional right to peaceful protest and expression,” Gangata said. “The demonstration will be peaceful, law-abiding, and respectful of all authorities.”

The planned demonstration will take place a week after a protest organized by Citizens for Credible Elections (CCE) was violently disrupted in Lilongwe by unidentified thugs, while police and Malawi Defence Force officers stood by without intervening.

The incident drew criticism from a wide swath of people, including legal experts, religious leaders and international donors who expressed concern that the space for political expression appears to be shrinking ahead of the country’s September 16 general elections.