Vigils to move to Ansah houses as protests over disputed elections in Malawi go on

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coaliton (HRDC) have said  protests  against the result of the May 21 presidential vote will not end  even if they are oppressed until Justice Jane Ansah  resigns as Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for allegedly compromising herself and mismanaging the vote results and purportedly favouring President Peter Mutharika.

Ansah  has rubbished the calls to resign and  said she is personally alright and leading a normal life.

But organisers of the protests have vowed not to relent.

Addressing thousands of people who  held a night long vigil at Presidential Drive in capital Lilongwe,  HRDC vice chairperson Gift Trapence said:” Vigils will not end until MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah resigns.”

Trapence said they will camp at all residences of Ansah in Malawi to which participants chanted “achoke, achoke, achoke!”

Meanwhile, HRDC Chairperson Timothy Mtambo said there are ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets who have infiltrated the vigils but urged police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF)  to kick out those who want to disrupt the vigils.

He said the HRDC leadership will not relent until Ansah resigns.

Adding his voice, Trapence said: “We are undeterred because we know that this is an attempt to distract us.”

Former legislator Jessie Kabwila accused the DPP regime of its prompesity to discredit critics as non Malawians.

She said even President Peter Mutharika has admitted that elections were rigged therefore the vigil is justified.

Kabwila has urged all Malawians to participate in the vigils without considering political affiliation.

She said this was a national cause.

The election was marred by allegations of fraud, including that many results sheets were altered using white correction fluid called Tippex.

The two main opposition parties have challenged the vote outcome in the court.