Malawi recently conducted presidential, parliamentary, and local elections amid heightened scrutiny, particularly following the controversial 2019 elections that led to the annulment of then-President Peter Mutharika’s victory. On election day, police arrested eight individuals, including data entry clerks, for allegedly attempting to manipulate election results. Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu stated that these arrests were made in response to attempts to alter vote counts.
Current unofficial results indicate that Peter Mutharika is leading the race, while incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera trails in second place. The electoral commission remains vigilant as it processes the results, given the irregularities observed in previous elections. Results from all of Malawi’s 36 districts are anticipated to be released on Saturday, with a requirement that a candidate secure over 50% of the votes to avoid a runoff.
In parallel, Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party has submitted a complaint to the electoral commission, citing irregularities in the vote counting process, though specific details have not been disclosed. The commission aims to announce the final election outcomes after all ballots have been accurately tallied and verified to prevent potential disputes.
Malawi’s electoral law stipulates that the commission must declare final tallies by the end of Wednesday following the election. Voter sentiment has been influenced by ongoing economic challenges, including a significant inflation rate nearing 30%, which has led to a high cost of living. Currently, a frozen chicken costs around $20 in shops in the capital, Lilongwe, where a substantial portion of the population survives on $2 daily. The implications of these economic factors on the election results remain to be seen.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx239dj0yx7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss