UDF alleges monitors were ‘boozed out of duty’ in key districts

By Edwin Mauluka

Atupele Muluzi, presidential candidate for the United Democratic Front (UDF), has accused unnamed actors of forcing its election monitors to consume alcohol, rendering them unable to perform their duties, and has demanded a vote recount in several districts.

In a letter dated September 18, 2025, addressed to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja and signed by UDF Secretary General Genarino Lemani, the party alleged that some of its monitors were intoxicated “against their will, their mobile phones confiscated, which impaired their ability to properly execute their oversight duties.”

Muluzi told reporters Saturday that his party had lodged a formal complaint with MEC and was seeking a recount in Machinga, Mangochi, Balaka, and Zomba.

“We have identified serious discrepancies in the tallying process that fundamentally compromise the integrity of the electoral outcome because the figures are not balanced,” Muluzi said.

He further alleged that many UDF monitors were not given official results sheets as required by law and that some were sidelined.

“Many of our monitors were directed to leave polling centres and told they would only be called back after results had been tallied, in order to sign the Parliamentary and Presidential Station Record of Results sheets,” he said.

Muluzi named Mangochi South West, Balaka Mulunguzi, and Mangochi East constituencies as particularly affected and insisted that recounts there were necessary to restore credibility.

The UDF leader is among 17 presidential candidates who competed in the September 16 general elections. Tabulation of results is ongoing.