In Malawi’s closely watched presidential election, former President Peter Mutharika has established a significant lead based on the provisional results announced so far. With approximately two-thirds of the districts having submitted their vote counts, Mutharika, aged 85, has secured around 66% of the votes. His main opponent, the current President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, is currently trailing with approximately 24% of the vote.
Interestingly, Mutharika appears to have secured victories in areas that were previously considered strongholds for Chakwera, including the capital city, Lilongwe, and the district of Nkhotakota. However, Chakwera’s campaign team remains optimistic, suggesting that as more results emerge from the remaining districts, his vote share is likely to increase, potentially leading to a run-off election.
To win the presidency outright, a candidate needs to secure over 50% of the total votes. Malawians are now keenly awaiting the final results, which the Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to announce by the end of the week. Key districts that are yet to declare results include areas with a substantial number of registered voters, where Chakwera’s party anticipates a strong performance, particularly in rural regions around Lilongwe and Dedza.
Meanwhile, results from two other districts, where Mutharika was expected to perform well, have been temporarily withheld by the electoral commission pending verification to ensure accuracy. The commission has emphasized its commitment to transparency and accuracy, especially after the constitutional court’s annulment of Mutharika’s 2019 victory due to irregularities.
Chakwera won the subsequent re-election but has faced significant challenges during his presidency, including a deepening economic crisis marked by high inflation, widespread shortages of food and fuel, and frequent power outages. Following the election, Chakwera’s party raised concerns about “irregularities” and “serious anomalies,” requesting a thorough audit of the results. In a separate development, police have arrested eight data entry clerks on suspicion of attempting to manipulate the election outcomes.
You may also be interested in:
- What is at stake in Malawi’s elections as cost-of-living bites?
- Malawi police arrest eight for alleged election fraud
- How brave judges rejected a ‘second-rate election’
- ‘I tell my children not to play so we save money on soap’