Malawi Awaits Election Results As Vote Counting Begins

Counting is underway as Malawians await the results of Tuesday’s election to determine who the next president and members of parliament will be.

Millions of registered voters went to the polls to elect the country’s new president in an election dominated by economic concerns. The capital, Blantyre, had been a scene of political rallies and campaign visits in the lead up to Tuesday’s general elections.

Dozens of observers from regional and international organizations arrived in Malawi ahead of the polls, seen as a test of the country’s democracy and a rematch between President Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika. It’s the first election since President Chakwera assumed office in 2020 after the 2019 poll results were nullified due to irregularities.

His main rival, the former president who was defeated in 2020, has been crisscrossing the country holding large rallies. The 84-year-old politician has accused President Chakwera of presiding over a country in “economic collapse”.

In 2020, the 50%+1 vote requirement was enacted, eliminating the chances of minority victories in future elections.