Post-election violence

At least three people were reported killed, mosques and shops gutted, and families forced to flee their homes in an outbreak of political violence in northern Malawi following the announcement of voting results on Friday. Media sources confirmed to IRIN on Tuesday that the northern town of Mzuzu was the flashpoint of clashes between supporters of re-elected President Bakili Muluzi, the leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF), and those of the opposition coalition of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Alliance for Democracy (AFORD). “The situation in Mzuzu is tense as police reinforcements have been deployed there to protect properties of UDF supporters,” the sources told IRIN. “The leaders of the opposition coalition are drumming up support by telling supporters that they don’t recognise Muluzi as president because he allegedly rigged the elections.” The sources also confirmed that about 19 families from Mzuzu fled to the administrative capital Blantyre on Sunday, claiming their lives were threatened because of their allegiance to the UDF. “At the same time, we have been informed of 40 other families from Mzuzu who are in hiding following attacks on their homes,” the sources said, adding that at least 35 arrests have been confirmed by the police following the violence. Muluzi was sworn-in on Monday for a second five-year term despite a planned court injunction by the opposition to declare the presidential results null and void. The opposition’s application is likely to be heard in the high court this week, the media sources said, adding that the date was rescheduled from Monday as all the judges were at the swearing-in ceremony. The opposition reportedly also plans to contest the validity of the results in four constituencies - one in the north and three in the south. However, it is highly unlikely that the court would declare the presidential results invalid after international observers declared them “substantially free”, analysts noted. “Should the court rule the presidential elections invalid, this would necessitate a re-run of the elections,” the sources said. “The donors who funded both the registration and electoral process to the tune of about US $20 million would not be very keen to release more money.”