By Mustafa Makumba 

On July 14, the Malawi Electoral Commission flagged off a 60-day official campaign period ahead of the September 16 general elections. For many Malawians, this marks the beginning of hopeful promises, colourful rallies, and the loud declarations of politicians seeking to lead. But for others, especially in the youth circles, it is a dangerous season, where some young people are lured into the frontline of political violence, hired cheaply to intimidate, harass, or even attack those holding opposing views, an embarrassing occurrence which ought to abruptly cease.

In recent weeks, there have been disturbing reports of demonstrators being assaulted by individuals armed with pangas. While the political elite watch safely from a distance, it is ordinary young men, that are often unemployed and seeking opportunity, who get drawn into this cycle of chaos. What’s unfolding is not just a breakdown of political discipline. It’s a betrayal of democratic values, and worse, a corrosion of our society’s moral compass which we ought to jealously guard.

For a country like Malawi, where democracy is still in an infant stage, this kind of manipulation has long-term consequences. When elections become a season of fear due to violence and unrest instead of a time for debate and ideas, society drifts further from rule of law and inches closer to lawlessness. But the youths still have a choice.

Quran warns us against being instruments of injustice. The Qur’an firmly commands:
“Do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire…” (Qur’an 11:113). This is a call to resist aligning with oppression — even by silence or passive support. Participating in violence under political instruction is not neutral. It’s siding with wrongdoing.

Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.” His companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, we understand helping someone who is oppressed, but how can we help someone who is an oppressor?” The Prophet replied, “By preventing him from oppressing others.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

This Hadith speaks directly to our current situation. A young person who refuses to be used for violence helps both the victim and the politician exploiting them. By saying no, they are upholding justice on both sides.

To Malawi’s youth: your energy, intelligence and numbers are a powerful force. But that power is not meant to be used for tearing each other apart. It should be used to build, to question, to organize, to vote and to protect what matters. No politician’s ambition is worth spilling blood over. No amount of cash, fuel allowance or party t-shirt can buy back dignity once it is lost.

In the end, political seasons come and go. Leaders rise and fall. But the scars of violence, especially when brother turns against brother, remain. Let this year’s election be different. Let the youth be the agents of change, peace-makers as well as the propagators of peace.