Political Leaders Sign Lilongwe City Peace Declaration Ahead of 2025 Elections

August 25, 2025

A group of six men celebrating with raised hands in a colorful, formal setting. — Representatives of political parties hold hands after signing a peace pledge, committing to conduct peaceful campaigns ahead of the September 16 elections.

Representatives of Malawi’s political parties gathered in Lilongwe on Friday, 15 August 2025, to sign the Lilongwe City Peace Declaration—a collective pledge to maintain peace and promote fair competition in the lead-up to the September general elections.

A group of five men standing by a table, with one man signing a document. — A representative from one of the political parties signs the peace pledge as others wait for their turn

By endorsing the Declaration, all participating parties agreed to campaign without violence, hate speech, or misinformation; to respect electoral officials and permit safe campaigning for everyone; and to settle disputes through legal, peaceful methods. Importantly, they pledged to honour the results announced by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). This commitment marks a step towards constructive, rather than confrontational, political rivalry.

At the same ceremony, the Multi-Party Liaison Committee (MPLC) and the District Peace and Unity Committee (DPUC) signed cooperation guidelines outlining how they will work together to monitor risks, mediate tensions, and coordinate peacebuilding efforts during the election period.

Dr. Macloud Kadammanja, Chief Executive Officer of Lilongwe City Council and Chairperson of the MPLC, urged political parties to uphold discipline during their campaigns.

“We should conduct our campaigns responsibly, behave with discipline, and avoid provoking others so that peace and order are maintained in the city,” he said.

Mr. Imtiaz Beg Mirza, Chair of the DPUC, emphasised the importance of vigilance and collaboration.

“Conflicts usually start small. By detecting issues early and working together with the police, city council, and MEC, we can prevent escalation. Our mission is peace—because development can only happen if we have peace,” he said.

A woman in a red blazer signs documents, while a man speaks to her, both at a table. — The Chairperson of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, Impi Bishop Mary Nkosi, signs the cooperation guidelines that set out how stakeholders will work together to monitor risks, mediate tensions, and coordinate peacebuilding efforts during the election period.

The Chairperson of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, Impi Bishop Mary Nkosi, commended the political leaders’ commitment: “The signing of the peace declaration by political party representatives is a good gesture coming from our political leaders in the city, who have, for a long time, been associated with violence. It’s high time that we change the perception of Lilongwe city as a violence hotspot to a peace haven”.

With only weeks remaining before polling day, the Lilongwe City Peace Declaration delivers a clear message: politics ought to unite people, not divide them.

This milestone was achieved through the collaborative efforts of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC), the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), the Multi-Party Liaison Committee, the District Peace and Unity Committee, and other partners. The United Nations, with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and technical support from UNDP, helped facilitate the cross-party engagement.