Muslims’s Mother Body ( MAM) condemns Protests
The mother body of Muslims in the country Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has condemned the post-elections violence that is taking place in some cities in the country.
Since declaration by Malawi Electoral Commission MEC that Professor Mutharika is the winner of May 21st Polls, demonstrations that have turned violent in some cities have been organized, others have taken place already while others are still underway.
In an interview with Insight Bulletin, MAM’s Spokesperson Sheikh Dinala Chabulika said that while peaceful demonstrations are part of our constitutional rights , however people are not supposed to take advantage of such gatherings and damage other people’s properties or their own public properties. Malawians should learn that demonstrations can be one of the best way to channel concerns without causing any harm. Chabulika said.
Chabulika further said that one thing Malawians ought to remember is that this is not the first nor the last time people are having elections, these things come to us every year but in between we all have Malawi which is our nation that needs to be looked after by all of us
The Civil Society Organizations (CSO), the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Transformation Movement (UTM) supporters have been protesting as one way of showing their dissatisfaction with the outcome of May 21’s elections which saw Professor Peter Mutharika being re-elected as Malawi’s Head of State.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared President Peter Mutharika winner of the controversial elections at 38.6 percent. MCP’s Lazarus Chakwera came second at 35.4 percent while Saulos Chilima of UTM was third with 20 percent.
The protests continue despite the parties presenting their grievances to court where both parties are seeking for a rerun.
Different commentators have reacted against protests that have turned violent asking organisers to civic educate the people for peaceful demonstrations if they are to achieve their demands. Others have argued that demonstrations have never yielded anything in Malawi therefore there is no need for one to demonstrate.
