Commission urges parties to use proper channels amid growing tensions

By Edwin Mauluka

Former president Peter Mutharika is leading incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in the official vote count from four of Malawi’s 36 district councils in the September 16 general elections.

According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Mutharika has so far secured 50,131 votes against Chakwera’s 13,199, a commanding 79.2% lead.

At a Friday night press briefing, MEC chairperson Justice Anabel Mtalimanja provided council-by-council updates. In Likoma, of 8,664 registered voters, 6,937 cast their ballots (80% turnout), with 143 void. Mutharika earned 4,177 votes, while Chakwera received 1,817.

In Kasungu Municipality, where 25,645 were registered, 18,614 voted (73% turnout). Of these, 373 ballots were void. Chakwera led narrowly with 8,818 votes, while Mutharika followed with 7,831.

In Luchenza Municipality, 8,455 of 10,237 registered voters turned out (83% turnout), with 127 ballots void. Mutharika dominated with 7,547 votes compared to Chakwera’s 336.

In Mwanza, which registered 51,045 voters, 38,011 participated (74% turnout), with 1,210 void. Mutharika secured 30,576 votes, while Chakwera received 2,228.

With these tallies, results from four councils are in, leaving 32 councils yet to report.

“As of 6 PM today, 16 councils out of 36 have managed to deliver physical tally sheets to the National Tally Centre,” Mtalimanja said. She added that 219 of 229 constituencies had also transmitted results electronically by Friday’s close of business, and urged citizens to verify posted results at polling centres, while warning against tampering.

On complaints, Mtalimanja clarified that she had only received grievances from individual Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidates, not from the party itself, as earlier claimed by Chakwera’s running mate Vitumbiko Mumba. She reminded parties and candidates to use official channels to file complaints.

Earlier Friday evening, Mumba had told supporters at the party’s headquarters that MCP had lodged a formal complaint with MEC, citing suspicions of result tampering. Police confirmed his claim that eight people had been arrested. Mumba called for an audit of the vote. At the time, unofficial results showed Chakwera trailing Mutharika.