Lilongwe, Malawi

January 20, 2026

Nzangunya Mkandawire

Public Backlash Follows Former President Chakwera’s “Rule of Law” Critique

Former President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s recent condemnation of the arrest of several high-ranking Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials has met with significant public pushback, as many Malawians express support for the current administration’s anti-crime initiatives.

Despite Dr. Chakwera’s appeal to President Arthur Peter Mutharika regarding the “deterioration of the rule of law,” public sentiment on social media and in various forums suggests a lack of sympathy for the former leader. Many citizens have characterized the current police actions as a necessary application of justice for alleged felonies committed during the previous administration.

Prominent social media influencers and commentators have been quick to challenge the former President’s stance, citing a perceived double standard in his sudden advocacy for legal procedure.

Joshua Chisa Mbele, a vocal social media influencer, questioned the MCP’s current stance by recalling the experiences of activists during the former administration. “Did Sylvester Namiwa and Joshua Chisa Mbele receive the ‘rule of law’ that the MCP is now advocating for? These lamentations are a silly joke,” Mbele stated.

Other commentators echoed these sentiments, highlighting specific incidents from the previous term: Several writers pointed to the use of “zikwanje” (machete-wielding youths) during the MCP’s tenure, questioning where the concern for the rule of law was when innocent people were being targeted.

Critics reminded the former President of the controversial handling of former ACB Director Martha Chizuma, noting that the police were frequently utilized for political maneuvers during that period.

References were made to the “Fertilizer-to-Butchery” scandal and other instances of alleged corruption as reasons why the public now supports the current legal scrutiny.

The prevailing public discourse suggests that many Malawians view the current arrests not as political persecution, but as accountability for a term they believe was defined by impunity and “dictatorship syndrome.”

Critics argue that during Dr. Chakwera’s presidency, senior officials allegedly operated above the law without intervention from the Executive. Consequently, the current legal actions by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government are being framed by the public as a necessary correction to ensure that constitutional laws remain superior to political power.

As the legal proceedings against senior MCP members continue, the former President’s calls for a unified stand against “police abuse” appear to be struggling to find traction among a population still reeling from the controversies of the previous five years.

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