Nationwide demonstrations aimed at forcing Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi to resign took a violent turn in Lilongwe on Thursday.
According to our reporters in the capital city, the protests organised by a group calling itself Citizens for Credible Election began on a high note, with demonstrators gathering at their starting point and displaying placards demanding electoral accountability.
However, tensions escalated when several unidentified men in a Toyota Fortuner allegedly stormed the Community Centre Ground and assaulted rights activist Sylvester Namiwa. Videos circulating on social media show Namiwa being beaten up in the presence of police officers who appeared not to intervene.
Businessman Maxwell Mwachande, whose minibus was later set ablaze, claims that Namiwa had sought refuge in his vehicle before it was torched.
Meanwhile, in Blantyre, the demonstrations were peaceful, though the turnout was described as disappointing by organisers.
