Malawi ex-president takes lead as vote-count advances
Mutharika leads two-thirds of districts; Chakwera's camp says results from other areas could push him into a run-off; electoral commission to declare final results by Wednesday
LILONGWE, Malawi — Former President Peter Mutharika led Malawi's presidential race as results from about two-thirds of districts were tallied, with roughly 66% of valid votes counted for him and about 24% for incumbent Lazarus Chakwera.
Results announced so far indicate Mutharika won in areas that have been Chakwera's strongholds, including the capital Lilongwe and Nkhotakota, a pattern that has complicated expectations for how the remaining districts could shift the outcome.
Chakwera's camp argues that as results from additional areas are declared, his share could rise and he could force a run-off, given that no candidate has yet cleared the 50% threshold required to win outright. The Malawi Electoral Commission has said it will announce final results after a careful tally.
The commission said it is carefully checking every tally sheet and is committed to transparency, accuracy and credibility in the process. It noted that several tallies are being reviewed after the constitutional court annulled Mutharika's 2019 victory over irregularities.
Two of the 12 districts that have not yet declared results are large by voter registration, and Chakwera's camp believes they could bolster his tally. They include rural areas around Lilongwe and Dedza. Conversely, two other districts, where Mutharika was expected to perform well, have had results withheld as authorities verify accuracy.
Separately, Chakwera's party said on Friday that it had identified irregularities and serious anomalies and requested a physical audit of the results. Police later said eight data-entry clerks were arrested on accusations of attempting to manipulate results.
Beyond the vote, Malawi's political climate sits against a backdrop of an economy that has faced high inflation, food and fuel shortages and persistent power outages during Chakwera's presidency. Analysts say the final outcome could influence the government's ability to address those challenges, but they caution that verification and legitimacy remain paramount as the counts continue.