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BLANTYRE – One person was killed Friday when police clashed with protesters demanding a recount of Malawi’s disputed presidential elections, as the country nervously awaited a court decision on last week’s vote. In the southeastern town of Mangochi, police fired teargas and rubber bullets at more than a hundred demonstrators who claimed that the election was rigged, witnesses said.
A teenager was “killed by a teargas cannister, which exploded in his hands as he was trying to throw it back at us,” Mangochi police officer Elijah Kachikuwo told AFP.
In the commercial capital of Blantyre, anti-riot police were stationed at strategic areas of the city ahead of a high court ruling on a last-ditch attempt to force a vote recount.
Meanwhile, after hearing arguments from both sides, judge Kenyatta Nyirenda told the court: “When the ruling is ready, counsel will be informed.”
There was no immediate indication of when that might be.
The electoral commission had admitted there was evidence of “anomalies” in the vote, but chairman Maxon Mbendera said Thursday the election was “free, fair and transparent and in my assessment, credible”.
He had vowed to release the results by the end of yesterday in compliance with the electoral laws, unless the court intervenes to force a 30-day extension for a recount.
Many of the protesters in Mangochi were members of the People’s Party of President Joyce Banda, who was trailing in third place in early results from the election.
Others were from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), whose candidate Lazarus Chakwera was in second place and has asked the court to order a recount.
This has been opposed by lawyers for the leader in the early results, Peter Mutharika (74), the brother of former president Bingu wa Mutharika.
An eyewitness said the Mangochi demonstrators had tried to march to the local district’s government offices but turned violent when they were stopped by police, rampaging through the streets and tearing down campaign posters.
“When police tried to stop them, they got angry and started stoning the police. Police then teargassed them,” said Kandodo, a freelance journalist for a local newspaper.
Police had earlier denied using rubber bullets, but Kachikuwo admitted later that was incorrect.
“Indeed we used rubber bullets, but the situation did not warrant us to use live bullets,” he said.
Calm had returned to the fishing town near Lake Malawi, he said, adding police would patrol the town throughout the night.
“The situation is under control because we are all over the town now,” Kachikuwo added.
Meanwhile, President Banda told Reuters Thursday that she was ready to step down if the High Court ratified the disputed election, even though she still believes the vote was fraudulent.
“I have told the MEC and related stakeholders that I will accept their decision, and the decision of the courts,” Banda told Reuters in an interview in the Malawian capital Lilongwe.
“I will rest knowing that I tried to defend the rights of Malawians in a critical moment to ensure they have a leader elected in a fair and credible manner,” she added.
Malawi’s cooperating partners in the May 20 tripartite election have called for calm and respect of the rule of law.
“We highlight the commitments made by all political leaders in the 10 May Lilongwe Peace Declaration. Going forward, we urge all parties, citizens and authorities to respect the legal and constitutional process, rise above personal and party interest and ensure Malawi’s reputation for stability and peace continues”. – AFP/Nyasa Times/HR
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