Protests held over MP win

Tensions flared in Blantyre City’s Chichiri-Misesa Constituency, where scores of concerned residents on Friday staged a protest march, voicing their dissatisfaction with the parliamentary election results.

The angry protesters, who are on their way to deliver petitions to both Blantyre City Council and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), allege that the declared results in favor of Themba Mkandawire are neither credible nor fair.During the demonstration, demonstrators were chanting and singing “Sitikufuna Themba” (“We don’t want Themba”), accusing the politician of manipulating the process.One protester, visibly upset, told Malawi Data that Mkandawire orchestrated mass voter transfers from surrounding areas in Ndirande to strengthen his numbers in Chichiri-Misesa.“We are not giving up. We will continue marching until our voices are heard,” the protester declared.The protests come after unofficial tallies suggested that Mkandawire is leading in the September 16 parliamentary race, sparking controversy and mistrust among constituents.MEC has yet to issue a formal response to the petitions or the allegations raised by the protesters.