Some chiefs in Balaka district have complained that they were locked in a cholera treatment room at Mbera health centre for supporting an opposition aspirant last Saturday.

One of chiefs who pleaded for anonymity said they were kept in the room for many hours.

When asked on the matter, public relations officer for Balaka police Precious Makuta said they did not receive any report that the chiefs were harassed adding police at the scene did not witness anything of that sort.

Makuta said they had deployed enough police officers to give maximum security.

Commenting, a human rights activist has condemned the use of public resources in harassing political opponents.

Speaking in an interview with the Local Media, Gift Trapence of Center for Development of the people CEDEP said the tendency is undemocratic therefore perpetrators must be brought to book.

Trapence said everyone has a right to participate in politics including the chiefs.

However, the activist asked chiefs to give equal opportunities to politicians to hold rallies.