Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service officers have detained 16 people suspected of planning to disturb voting in Nkhotakota.
Nkhotakota district commissioner (DC) Medson Matchaya, who is also Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) returning officer, confirmed the arrests during a media briefing on Monday evening.
He said the 16 used a minibus with a customised Fresh Presidential Election (FPE) registration.
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The DC said some residents became suspicious and after quizzing them, they said they were retired soldiers.
The residents reported the matter to soldiers deployed in the district.
“The soldiers took them to the police station for further questioning,” he said.
Matchaya, however, said none was found with marked or unmarked ballot papers or any weapon as alleged by some people.
All political party representatives and electoral stakeholders attended the press briefing and were given opportunity to ask questions.
