By Audrey Kapalamula:
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has said the July 4 and 5 2019 demonstrations to force Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Chairperson, Justice Jane Ansah, to resign have been extended to 15 districts.
The demonstrations might be extended to July 12 2019 if Ansah refuses to resign, HRDC Chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, said Sunday.
“We are looking at least 15 districts because we had a lot of pressure from the citizens to say ‘why are we choosing the cities as if elections were only rigged in the cities’. So, we are not stopping people,” he said.
Mtambo said they had adopted an incremental approach where the demonstrations may be organised in all districts if Ansah does not resign.
“So far, to ensure that there is order, we are advising the police to deploy more police officers and we will ensure that we have a lot of marshals to control the masses. We emphasise peace throughout the process,” Mtambo said.
The coalition distanced itself from acts of violence that were reported on June 20 during the demonstrations which took place in Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Blantyre and Zomba cities.
Ansah insists she would only resign if the court establishes that the elections were marred by irregularities.
She says the parties must allow the court process to take its course instead of taking to the streets.
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