Malawi Peace and Unity Commission Signs Landmark MoU with CMD to Strengthen Peacebuilding Efforts

Lilongwe, 17 April 2025 – The Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) convened a breakfast meeting today in Lilongwe, during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD). The event provided an opportunity to highlight key milestones achieved since the Commission’s establishment, engage stakeholders in meaningful dialogue on peacebuilding, and reflect on progress made under the SDG Acceleration Fund (SDG-AF) Project.

The meeting brought together representatives from the government, development partners, civil society, and faith-based organisations committed to sustaining peace in Malawi.

The agreement paves the way for enhanced coordination in political dialogue, civic education, insider mediation, and joint efforts to prevent and resolve political disputes, including electoral related disputes as we go towards September, 2025 elections.

Rev. Dr. Zacc Kawalala, Vice Chairperson of the MPUC, reinforced the importance of collaboration:

“The MoU signed today between the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission and the Centre for Multiparty Democracy symbolises the collaborative nature of peacebuilding work envisaged by the Peace and Unity Act, 2022. Realising sustainable peace, unity, and security requires joint efforts of all players in the peacebuilding ecosystem and systematic coordination of those efforts​.”

Dr. Elias Chakwera, Chairperson of CMD, said:

“This partnership signals our unified vision for a peaceful and democratic Malawi. CMD remains committed to fostering a political culture that values dialogue over division. Working alongside the Commission, we aim to contribute to a peaceful environment where every citizen and every party has a place at the table.”

Since its establishment in November 2023, the Commission has been working towards establishing a fully-functional Secretariat, developed strategic operational documents, established District Peace and Unity Committees (DPUCs) in Nsanje, Thyolo, Machinga and Nkhotakota, and strengthened partnerships with community actors.

Rev. Dr Zacc Kawalala highlighted the Commission’s journey and collaboration with key actors:

“What has been showcased today are the achievements that the Commission has registered in the past one year and five months. These mainly constitute achievements towards laying a foundation for the Commission’s work. The support rendered by development partners has been instrumental, and we look forward to even greater collaboration in our mission to promote peace and unity across the country”​.

He emphasised that the challenges ahead, particularly with the upcoming 2025 general elections, require even stronger partnerships.

“The task ahead of us in 2025 requires more support from development partners and joint efforts by all players. The Commission also commits to collaborating with other actors to realise its vision of a country with enduring peace and unity for robust political stability and socio-economic development”​.

UN Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh underscored the importance of sustaining peace through continuous engagement and inclusivity: 

“Peace is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process. We must create platforms for ongoing dialogue and negotiation, adapting to changing contexts and emerging challenges like the current context, where elections are an emotive process. How do we ensure political contestation does not degenerate into violent conflict?”

The breakfast meeting reaffirmed that peacebuilding in Malawi is a shared responsibility, and the Commission called on all stakeholders—citizens, political leaders, and partners—to remain engaged and supportive as it expands its structures and deepens its work nationwide.

The Malawi Peace and Unity Commission acknowledges with gratitude the invaluable support provided by the Embassy of Ireland and the United Nations Joint SDG-AF Fund. Their contributions have been pivotal in enabling the Commission to achieve key milestones, including the establishment of operational structures, the development of strategic frameworks, and the strengthening of local peace mechanisms. This support continues to play a crucial role in advancing the Commission’s mission to build and sustain peace throughout Malawi.

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For media queries

Steve M’bayeni, Strategic Communications Officer, United Nations Development Programme comms.support.mw@undp.org 

Dyton Kang’oma, Project Specialist, Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC) | Email: dyton.kangoma@undp.org 

Taweni Kalua, Peace and Development Officer, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office | Email: taweni.kalua1@undp.org