Malawi police fire teargas at opposition protesters

By Moses Miachael-Phiri

LILONGWE, Malawi (AA) - Police in Malawi on Thursday fired teargas at thousands of opposition protestors who are calling for the nullification of the May 21 presidential election results.

The demonstrations took place in country's three main cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu.

Most of the protesters support the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which claims that its leader Lazarus Chakwera was denied victory in the presidential election.

President Peter Mutharika was declared winner of the presidential election with 38.5 %.

Chakwera had earlier challenged the results over voting irregularities and filed a case in the court.

“Malawians have a right to demand electoral justice. What happened on May 21 this year was electoral fraud,” said Chakwera who led protests in the capital, Lilongwe.

Protestors tore down and burnt Mutharika’s campaign billboards and posters.

They also called for the resignation of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah for “running a fraudulent presidential election.”

Police fired teargas to stop the protestors from descending on MEC Headquarters located in Blantyre. Protestors stormed parliament in the capital Lilongwe.

National Police Spokesperson James Kadadzera told Anadolu Agency police used teargas to stop protests from turning violent.

“We want to ensure that protests are peaceful and that there is no damage to private and public property,” he said via telephone.

Chakwera said protests will continue until a panel of five judges nullifies the presidential election result.