Information reaching publication indicates that some people armed with panga knives and other weapons are chasing away people that are gathering around Lilongwe Community Ground, a starting point for the planned opposition parties demonstrations.

Armed police officers are also on the ground but are just watching.

Yesterday, Lilongwe district commissioner Lawford Palani wrote the opposition political parties and some concerned civil society organisations, asking them to reschedule the planned demonstration and vigils because the Malawi Police Service is stretched and would not be able to provide adequate security.

The demonstrations aim to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to disengage the election management devices (EMD) supplied by Smartmatic. The parties also want MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja, MEC chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi and National Registration Bureau (NRB) Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo to step down.

More details to come…