/ 20 July 1999

MALAWI OPPOSITION RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT

THE opposition Malawi Congress Party and its coalition partner the Alliance for Democracy returned to parliament on Monday after boycotting Friday’s opening address by President Bakili Muluzi, news reports said. The opposition deputies took up their seats in parliament on Monday to participate in the debate on the president’s address, which is scheduled to last for two weeks. The opposition coalition boycotted the session on Friday, arguing that they don’t recognise Muluzi’s legitimacy as president of Malawi because they claim he rigged the 15 June presidential elections. Meanwhile, the High court on Friday ordered Malawi’s electoral commission to allow the opposition coalition to inspect voting materials from the 16 regions in which MCP/AFORD claim the presidential polls were rigged.