Two rights activists held in Malawi for alleged fraud

The two Malawian rights activists detained over alleged fraud have denied the charges.

The activists, Gift Trapence and Macdonald Sembereka, have been key figures behind nationwide protests demanding the resignation of the head of election management body, Jane Ansah.

National police spokesman, James Kadadzera, says the two are suspected to have received money from UNAids to organise a workshop, but that the workshop did not take place.

The two say their arrest is a ploy by government to silence them.

They believe the Malawi electoral commission mismanaged last May’s polls and want its head, Jane Ansah to step down or be fired.