Organizers of the anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations have vowed to continue with fresh protests despite being subjected to different intimidations. 

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson for the Southern Region, Masauko Thawe said this following attacks by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters in Blantyre on Wednesday.

HRDC protesters were attacked on their way to petition electoral delegates who are meeting at the 21st Annual General Conference of the Electoral Commissions for Southern African Development Countries (ECF SADC) Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

The protesters were blocked at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds, along Masauko Chipembere highway by DPP supporters who accompanied agriculture minister Kondwani Nankhumwa at this year’s National Agriculture Fair.

Thawe said: “It’s a very sad development that demonstrators have been beaten by DPP cadets and teargassed by the police but we will not relent because it’s not HRDC demonstrating but Malawians who want justice to prevail.”

Following the running battles, HRDC key member, Billy Mayaya, was attacked and seriously injured in the head by the purported DPP supporters.

In another ugly scenario, Police officers fired teargas which landed inside Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QUECH) causing a pregnant woman to faint and death of a child.

HRDC leaders were taking advantage of the ECF SADC meeting to persuade the international body in forcing Justice Ansa to resign.

The ECF SADC is a network of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) from 16 SADC countries; Uganda, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia South Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.