Lilongwe (Fides Service)- Protests and denouncement of electoral fraud continue in Malawi after Bingu wa Mutharika the leader of the party in power was declared the winner of presidential elections on May 20, (see Fides 25 and 22 May 2004). The coalition of Opposition parties has called on the Supreme Court to annul the vote and call new elections denouncing irregularities in the vote.
Some protests led to clashes with the police and at least four people were reported dead and several injured.
The Malawi Electoral Support Network group of 20 NGOs which had the task of monitoring the elections has also urged the people of Malawi to reject the official results because the elections were marked by fraud.
Local Church sources think these accusations may be justified. In fact it is said that there were cases of people whose names were not on the voting list who went to the polls all the same. There were also “ghost” polling stations and irregular booths not registered with the electoral commission.
Some local Catholic media received threats for reporting cases of fraud and intimidation before and during the electoral campaign. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2004 righe 22 parole 218)