MEC Offices Sealed
Thawe (left) and other protester after sealing the entrance to MEC offices in Blantyre
- pic by Happy Njalam'mano
The anti-Jane Ansah protesters have sealed offices of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in their continued bid to force the Commission step down.
They are accusing the Commission of mismanaging the 2019 elections.
The protesters on Thursday took to the streets of the country’s four major cities and some selected districts where they locked the Commission’s offices.
Leader of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) for the south, Masauko Thawe, said after sealing the Blantyre offices that the action is symbolic but they will be monitoring the situation.
“We will be inspecting the office to ensure that no MEC officer gets in. Malawians have lost trust in it and we want the whole Commission to step down,” he said.
HRDC has since last year been holding demonstrations to force MEC Chairperson, Justice Dr. Jane Ansah, and the entire Commission to step down.
On 3rd February, 2020, high court sitting as a Constitutional Court in Lilongwe nullified the May 21, 2019 presidential elections on grounds that, among others, there were massive and systematic irregularities.
Meanwhile, the Public Appointments Committee of Malawi Parliament is assessing competence of the Commission ahead of fresh elections within 150 days from the day of court ruling.
