Supporters of a major opposition party in Malawi have besieged government offices in capital Lilongwe and shut down the work of the government in protest against the results of May's presidential election, local media said Tuesday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th June, 2019) Supporters of a major opposition party in Malawi have besieged government offices in capital Lilongwe and shut down the work of the government in protest against the results of May's presidential election, local media said Tuesday.Malawian President Peter Mutharika from the Democratic Progressive Party was re-elected in May for the second presidential term after a vote recount over alleged vote irregularities.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters gathered at the party's headquarters and then descended on government offices, located in an area called Capital Hill, the Malawi24 news website reported.
The protesters broke through security checkpoints and stormed the building, forcing government workers to leave, expressing outrage over what the opposition says was a rigged and illegal election result.
MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera had previously refused to recognize the outcome of the election and the legitimacy of the re-elected president. On May 31, he launched a court case to have the "fraudulent" results annulled. The disputed election has been accompanied by street violence as MCP supporters clashed with police.
Mutharika has led the small but densely populated east African nation since 2014 when he defeated both Chakwera and previous President Joyce Banda from the People's Party in a hotly contested election.
