LILONGWE, Malawi – Political tension is running high in Malawi after the Malawi ruling party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), claimed it had uncovered serious voting irregularities in nearly half of the country’s 28 districts following this week’s general elections. The allegations have reignited memories of the country’s 2019 presidential election, which was famously nullified due to widespread irregularities.
On Friday, officials from the Malawi ruling party held a press conference, declaring that discrepancies had been found in vote counts from 13 districts. At the same time, police announced the arrest of eight election data clerks suspected of tampering with electoral results.
The accusations and arrests come at a sensitive time, as the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) continues to tally votes amid mounting pressure and public uncertainty over the outcome.
Disputed Results and High Stakes for the Malawi Ruling Party
Both President Lazarus Chakwera, leader of the Malawi ruling party (MCP), and former President Peter Mutharika, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have claimed victory in the closely contested presidential race.
However, preliminary results released by the MEC on Friday suggest that 85-year-old Mutharika has taken a strong lead in three out of four councils counted so far. Political observers have noted that President Chakwera, 70, may be facing defeat, as many voters are reportedly frustrated with the country’s economic struggles and high cost of living under his leadership.
In a statement, Chakwera’s running mate Vitumbiko Mumba said that the Malawi ruling party had filed a formal complaint with the electoral commission. He called for a full physical audit of ballots, particularly in districts where “serious anomalies” were detected.
“The MCP has lodged a formal complaint to the MEC to conduct a physical audit, especially in areas where we discovered serious anomalies,” Mumba told reporters, although he did not provide specific examples of the alleged irregularities.
Amid the rising tensions, Malawi police confirmed the arrest of eight election data entry clerks near the capital, Lilongwe. The clerks are suspected of manipulating vote counts during the data capture process.
A separate incident further intensified public concern: a returning officer is under investigation following an alleged attempted suicide, reportedly linked to a bribery attempt to alter election outcomes. Police say they are probing the incident, which could point to deeper electoral corruption.
These developments have increased pressure on the Malawi Electoral Commission, which now faces scrutiny not only from political parties but also from civil society and international observers.
With tensions rising and public trust in the electoral process being tested, MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja has urged patience. She emphasized that the commission is committed to conducting a careful and accurate verification process, despite mounting calls for a quicker result announcement.
“We need to be meticulous,” Mtalimanja told journalists on Friday. “We will not be pressured to rush this process.”
According to Malawi’s electoral law, the commission has up to eight days after the vote to release the official results of the presidential election.
Adding to the unease, at least four major broadcasters in Malawi abruptly stopped live dashboards of unofficial vote tallies on Friday, fueling fears of an information blackout. No formal reasons were given for halting the broadcasts, but sources suggest that media outlets were pressured by authorities or political actors.
Golden Matonga, Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Malawi, expressed concern about the sudden media silence.
“The media has been pressured from various quarters to stop live broadcasts, particularly the results dashboards,” Matonga told AFP. “This will create an information vacuum. Disinformation can fill that vacuum, and the public can be misinformed.”
He called on all media houses to resume their reporting “without yielding to any pressure from authorities or individuals.”
Malawi’s electoral process has been under intense scrutiny since the 2019 presidential election was nullified by the country’s Constitutional Court. That election, which initially declared Mutharika the winner, was annulled after it was revealed that correction fluid (Tippex) had been used to alter vote tallies.
Chakwera won the 2020 re-run, becoming the first opposition leader in Malawi’s history to defeat an incumbent through the ballot box. But now, just five years later, the tables may have turned again.
According to political analyst Boniface Dulani, the current election may not necessarily be a vote of confidence in Mutharika but rather a referendum on Chakwera’s performance.
“It’s a vote against the president. It’s not necessarily an endorsement of the former president,” Dulani explained.
As the Malawi ruling party navigates growing allegations of electoral fraud, legal challenges, and increasing public anxiety, the outcome of this election could redefine the country’s political future. The MEC’s final announcement—expected within days—will either confirm Chakwera’s continuation or mark the return of Mutharika to power.
Until then, Malawi remains on edge, awaiting the result of yet another historic and highly contested election.
Source- EWN
