BLANTYRE, Malawi, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Malawi former and first democratic president, Bakili Muluzi, on Tuesday called the Malawi Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders to a dialogue on the ongoing post-election violence in the country.
The former Malawi leader met the HRDC leaders at his residence in the country's commercial city of Blantyre where he pleaded with the human rights activists to suspend the demonstrations and allow for negotiations.
HRDC has been leading Malawians in demonstrations to force the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah to resign on allegations that she had mismanaged the May 21 presidential election results which led to President Peter Mutharika's win.
Since May 21 the HRDC has led Malawians across the country into the anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations which have since spiraled into destruction and looting of public and private property.
During the nearly 3-hour meeting, Muluzi pleaded with the HRDC leaders to postpone the demonstrations scheduled on Thursday to "allow me to meet the authorities on the other side in Lilongwe and see what would be their response," Muluzi told Xinhua.
But the HRDC leaders who were led by the Coalition's Chairperson, Timothy Mtambo, snubbed the former Malawi President's appeal, saying they would go ahead with the demonstrations anyway.
The HRDC chairperson said if Ansah resigned the Coalition would slow down on the demonstrations but added that they would continue criticizing the nepotism, corruption and impunity in the country.
