Chilima, CSOs vow not to relent until Ansah resigns: ‘She mismanaged Malawi poll results’

Immediate past Vice-president Saulos Chilima and leaders of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating under the banner Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), have vowed on Thursday that will not relent to hold peaceful demonstrations until Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)  chairperson Justice Jane Ansah steps down as the overseer of the elections governing body.

Chilima spokes in Lilongwe at the start of demonstrators which he joined together with his wife Mary.

He said they would not back down.

“Ansah must go! If she doesn’t resign in this second phase of demonostration [the first demonostration were held on June 20], we will go into phase three,” said Chilima who was dressed in a security armoured gear.

He condemned reported violence aimed at protestors in Blantyre where ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rough necks attacked marchers with knifes and whipping sticks.

Chilima said he will join Blantyre protesters in the next demonstrations should MEC chairperson Anah refuses to resign.

“We will not be cowed, we will not relent,”  said Chilima.

He said the demonstration will remain to be peaceful and that  Malawi Police Service (MPS) should arrest anybody who will be found perpetrating violence and looting people’s property.

HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo said  they have the  “will, the determination, and the means to make sure your vote will count. Ansah must go.”

Ansah, who has since refused to step down, told the media recently that demonstrations organised by the CSOs are a mob justice that need not to be tolerated.

Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera are challenging results of the presidential election claiming that they were rigged in favour of President Peter Mutharika who got 38 percent of the vote.

Results MEC announced show that Chakwera trailed Mutharika by 35 percent while Chilima, who was until May this year vice-president to Mutharika, finished third with 20 percent of the votes.

Currently, Chilima and Chakwera are in court as first and second petitioners, respectively, seeking nullification of presidential election results over alleged irregularities, especially in the results management system.

A paneL of five judges of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court comprising Healey Potani, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo set July 29 as the date for hearing of the substantive case will start.

Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and European Union Election Observer Mission expressed some reservations.The European Union Election Observer Mission also faulted the results management system.