Malawian Journalist Still Awaits Justice After Brutal Attack

By Pamela Kapekele Three months after she was brutally beaten while covering protests in Lilongwe, Malawi, Times Group journalist Mercy Matonga is still waiting for justice. Matonga, along with other reporters, was attacked by a machete-wielding group on June 26, 2025, during anti-government demonstrations. Vehicles were torched and journalists were assaulted in full view of police and soldiers, who failed to intervene. Some journalists were also forced to delete pictures of the violence. The attack was not an isolated incident. Panga-wielding groups have repeatedly targeted protesters and journalists with impunity, raising concerns about the role of state security agencies. MISA Malawi strongly condemned the assault, calling it a violation of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. “We remind President Lazarus Chakwera and state agencies to decisively stop these senseless attacks,” MISA said in a statement, warning that continued impunity erodes public trust in the Malawi Police Service. Although State House issued a condemnation, no perpetrators have been arrested, leaving victims like Matonga without justice.