This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
Protests against the disputed result of the May 21 presidential vote have gripped Malawi since July 4, 2019. The protests have seen nearly two months of demonstrations by Malawians who dismiss the election as fraudulent and demand the resignation of election commission chairwoman Jane Ansah.
On July 6, 2019, Malawi's re-elected President Peter Mutharika condemned the protests, saying organisers wanted to turn the country into a 'lawless society'. The president made the remarks at a rally to mark the country's 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.
“The violence you see is calculated to turn Malawi into a lawless state,” Mutharika told the rally. “They want to create lawlessness so that they can take over this government. But they will only take this government over my dead body,” he said.
Opposition leaders, including Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party and Saulos Chilima of the United Transformation Movement, have been taking part in the protests. They claim correction fluid was used on some results sheets and have lodged cases in court.
Gift Trapence, vice chairman of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which is organising the protests, said the president's statement is 'misplaced' because the protests are not targeted at overthrowing the government. “We are not attacking the government… and no one wants to overthrow the government. These peaceful demonstrations are being done to force Jane Ansah to resign,” said Trapence.
