Protesters in Mzuzu on Thursday failed to deliver their petition to Mzuzu City Council Offices due to violence that erupted when some of them started stoning government and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) offices.

Police fired teargas canisters to disperse the protesters but instead the group stormed District Commissioners offices as well as Mzuzu ADD offices where they destroyed properties and went away with brand new bicycles.

Some offices at were also burnt down.

The violence continued for about an hour and police failed to calm the situation but the situation normalized after the arrival of  Malawi Defense Force (MDF) soldiers from Moyale barracks.

Soldiers did not leave the town until evening hours and business which came to a standstill in the city started resuming at around 6 O’clock in the evening as some shops such Sana were open for customers.

The Demonstrations were delayed in the morning because of the rains but after the rains stopped, thousands of people in Mzuzu took to the streets demanding the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Dr Jane Ansah for failure to manage the May 21 polls.

Organizers of the demonstrations, Chairperson for the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) in the northern region Happy Mhango was not immediately available for comment.