Four people, including a pregnant woman, died after a vehicle from the convoy carrying the body of Malawi’s late vice president Saulos Chilima hit mourners, police say.
Twelve other people were injured in the Sunday night incident and were treated at a hospital.
Clashes broke out between local people, police and soldiers escorting the late vice president’s funeral convoy from the capital, Lilongwe, to his hometown for his burial.
Chilima died in a plane crash a week ago and will be buried later on Monday in his home district of Ntcheu, about 180 kilometers (112 miles) south of the capital.
Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the coffin as it was transported for burial on Sunday.
As the procession passed through areas near Chilima’s house, some people began throwing stones at vehicles and government officials.
Amid the commotion, a vehicle left the road, hitting a group of mourners and killing four of them, according to a police statement.
The spokesperson for Chilima’s UTM party told the AFP news agency that there was some tension along the route as mourners demanded that the procession stop so they could see the coffin.
“In Dedza, people blocked the road and demanded to see the coffin,” said Felix Njawala.
The convoy moved forward after the mourners were pacified.
The party condemned the acts of violence and called on its followers to refrain from any violence or destruction.
“We cannot tolerate violence, Dr. Chilima advocated for peace, let us do the same,” state broadcaster MBC quoted UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati.
Chilima, 51, died last Monday along with eight other people when a military plane carrying out an internal flight crashed in a forest in the north of the country in bad weather.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of Malawians attended a funeral at the national stadium. to pay tribute to him.
Chilima had a special connection with the people, especially the youth, and was considered a breath of fresh air in Malawian politics.
His party formed a coalition government with that of President Lazarus Chakwera after contesting and winning the 2020 elections as alliance partners.
Some of Chilima’s supporters have criticized the government’s handling of the events leading up to his death and loudly booed the president when he delivered his eulogy at Sunday’s funeral.
Chakwera has promised a full investigation into the cause of the accident.
Security has been beefed up across Ntcheu district ahead of Mr Chilima’s burial.