PAC says violent demonstrations are unacceptable
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) spokesperson Father Peter Mulomole has condemned the violent protests to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to resign calling for calm and patience among Malawians as they wait for the outcome of the court case on the disputed elections.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM are disputing results of the presidential election and have taken the matter to court. The two parties and some civil society organisations (CSOs) have supported demonstrations mounted by citizens in some parts of the country.
But the demonstrations changed from peaceful to violent as people in Mzuzu torched a police unit and destroying property belonging to senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gurus.
They burnt Chibavi Police, and even set free suspects from police cells, ransacked Aunt Tina Lodge belonging to DPP deputy director of operations Big Joe Nyirongo.
The protesters also damaged a vehicle, looted property and stoned the house of former Cabinet minister Grace Chiumia.
The ugly scenes in Mzuzu on Friday, add to those on Thursday in the city, as well as to those in Karonga and Rumphi.
In Karonga, protesters also ransacked public offices, including Northern Region Water Board, district council, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Forestry and a service station shop.
In Rumphi, they stoned the district commissioner’s house, and a vehicle belonging to the DC’s office. Nkhata Bay, one of the districts where demonstrations took place on Thursday, was quiet on Friday.
PAC spokesman said violent demonstrations are “unacceptable.”
Since the results were announced on May 27, the HRDC and the opposition have been organizing protests in cities demanding the resignation of Ansah.
“We want Jane Ansah to resign; if she doesn’t, we will continue with a series of demonstrations across the country until she resigns,” Chairperson for the HRDC Timothy Mtambo told local journalists Friday at the camp in the capital.
Mtambo distanced his organization from any looting or burning of public offices, saying the protests were “peaceful” and that “those inciting violence were not part of the demonstrations.”
Malawi government spokesperson Mark Botoman, however, on Friday told local media that “it is very clear that the looting and destruction of public property is part of the demonstrations and we are going to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book.”
Meanwhile, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Malawi Defense Force (MDF) jointly patrolled cities, calming the situation.
Ansah told a local broadcaster recently that she would resign only if the country’s constitutional court orders that the electoral process had irregularities.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Nothing good can come from this grouping called PAC it’s another group which is so EVIL spiritually blind and it is misleading & misguilding many people – that’s why we are have violence in this country – It is a big shame!!!!!
PAC is a dog that loves bones, just be eating your bones. It is not the original PAC we knew that consisted of men that feared God.
This is the true picture of what Chakwera, Chilima and Trapence is – what a shame GOD called called him to save the the lost souls but look now what happenning?? Surely God is so faithful and just and I know he will do his part in order to retain peace for Malawi people. Malawians are peace loving people and the whole world testifies about this and woe to the one who brings chaos and bloodshed among the people.
Actually everyone MUST be condemning TIPPEX and fattan counterfeit ballots. Work up PAC. Work up.
Please PAC give us a break!!! You guys are just Snakes in Grass!!! What you are doing is just a pretense. You want Malawians to believe you that you are against the violent demonstrations when you and the Bishop are the ones funding these dirty demonstrations. We all know this. You guys are just dirty and God will not spare you. Just wait, time will come when you and your groups will all regret. Are you not the same people who informed all Malawians and the whole world that Chaponda received money from Zambia Maize Gate? But all inquiries including… Read more »