Peace character i sed demonstrations in Mzuzu and Blantyre yesterday where hundreds marched to demand the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi within seven days.
The protesters accuse the two MEC officials of allegedly neglecting calls for an independent audit of the election management system (EMS).
In Mzuzu, Citizens for Credible Elections (CCE) led the demonstrations from Katoto Secondary School ground around 10am through the roundabout at Shoprite to the clock tower before delivering their petition to M’Mbelwa District Council representative Evelyn Chirwa in the afternoon.
There was a heavy presence of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Malawi Police Service officers, who provided security to the marchers.
However, the organisers played delaying tactics during the parade.
For instance, they took about about five hours to cover a distance of less than three kilometres from Katoto to the council offices.
Speaking when delivering the petition, the group’s coordinator Gomezgani Nkhoma said Mtalimanja and Mpesi should not be allowed to run the upcoming September 16 General Election.
He said: “The duo is too compromised to run the elections. This is evident by their denial to allow independent entities to audit and validate Smartmatic EMS.
“We don’t trust the system along with those who are managing it. But our lost trust can only be restored if the duo either allows independent auditors into the system or resign.”
Business was at a standstill for the rest of the day in Mzuzu central business district.
In Blantyre, the demonstrators presented their petition to Blantyre district commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko.
Citizens for Credible Elections Southern Region chapter chairperson Asabuni Phiri said they resorted to demonstration after exhausting all means of presenting their concerns.
He said Mtalimanja has failed Malawians after rejecting the proposal by some political parties to conduct an independent audit into the EMDs that will be co-used in votes transfer during the elections.
The group also noted that Mpesi was one of the Malawi Congress Par ty (MCP) witnesses during the 2019 presidential elections case and that his decisions as MEC chief elections officer would be subjective.
“If the seven days elapse, we will take further action. But we cannot disclose the planned action now,” said Phiri.
Speaking after receiving the petition, Mdooko assured the demonstrators that he will forward it to relevant authorities.
The demonstrations started from Ginnery Corner Mosque to the DC’s office via Masauko Chipembere Highway to Haile Selassie Road.
Besides Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu, people in Mangochi also took to the streets to demand the resignation of Mtalimanja and Mpesi.
The group, led by Cliff Chinyama, presented their petition to Mangochi district commissioner Davie Chigwenembe, who pledged to forward it to relevant authorities for consideration.
He al so commended the demonstrators for conducting the protest peacefully.
However, shortly after the petition was delivered, tensions ensued when some protesters began disrupting traffic.
Police officers intervened, and in an effort to restore order, fired teargas to disperse the crowd.
The confrontation caused panic among bystanders and vendors in the area.
