Malawi parties warned not to prematurely declare election victory as results await official tally

Malawi's electoral commission warned political parties not to prematurely declare victory after rival camps claimed wins in Tuesday's presidential election. Annabel Mtalimanja, chair of the Malawi Electoral Commission, said only the commission is mandated to release results and urged candidates to wait for official tallies.

Officials said results were still being counted and verified, and the release would come only after all votes had been tallied to guard against challenges to the outcome. A candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.

The contest features incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, 70, and his predecessor Peter Mutharika, 85, with both camps declaring victory as counting continued. Malawi also held parliamentary and local elections on the same day, a campaign period dominated by the worsening economic crisis that has left fuel and foreign currency scarce. Inflation runs near 30%, and rising living costs have become a dominant issue for voters; in Lilongwe, a frozen chicken costs around $20, illustrating the price pressures faced by households living on roughly $2 a day.

The 2019 election’s controversy, culminating in the highest court overturning then-President Mutharika’s victory and ordering a run-off won by Chakwera, has set a high bar for credibility this time. Observers and opposition parties have pressed for transparent counting and swift but accurate results to avoid renewed disputes.

As results proceed to be tallied, analysts say the timing of any final declaration could influence the political climate ahead of the parliamentary and local contests. Officials say the tallying and verification process remains ongoing and that the commission will issue a final result only when it is confident in its accuracy, avoiding premature declarations that could be challenged before Parliament and local councils are seated.