The Chairperson of Malawi’s Electoral Commission, Annabel Mtalimanja, has issued a strong warning to political parties and their supporters not to prematurely declare electoral victory ahead of the official announcement of results. The caution comes after both the ruling Malawi Congress Party, led by incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), led by former President Peter Mutharika, claimed they had secured victory in Tuesday’s tightly contested election.
Speaking at a press conference in Lilongwe on Thursday, Ms. Mtalimanja reminded all political stakeholders that only the Electoral Commission is constitutionally mandated to declare election results. She emphasized that while nearly all votes have already been counted, the Commission would only release the official outcome after the tallying and verification process is fully completed to ensure transparency and credibility. This measure, she said, was necessary to avoid legal disputes and safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
The stakes are high in this election, as the winner must secure more than 50% of the total votes to avoid a runoff. The political tension recalls Malawi’s controversial 2019 general election, in which the Constitutional Court annulled the victory of then-President Peter Mutharika, citing widespread irregularities. That historic ruling paved the way for a re-run in 2020, which Lazarus Chakwera won convincingly, ushering him into office. Now, five years later, Mutharika, at 85, is seeking a dramatic political comeback, while Chakwera, 70, hopes to secure a renewed mandate amid growing economic challenges.
Malawians also cast their votes for parliamentary and local government representatives in the same election cycle. The campaign season was dominated by heated debates over the country’s worsening economic situation, with inflation hovering close to 30% and the nation grappling with severe shortages of fuel and foreign currency. For ordinary citizens, the cost of living has become unbearable, with basic items such as a frozen chicken selling for as much as $20 (£15) in supermarkets in the capital, Lilongwe—an astronomical price in a country where the majority of people survive on less than $2 a day.
The delay in releasing results has heightened public anxiety, with citizens eagerly waiting to know who will lead them through one of the toughest economic periods in Malawi’s recent history. Both major camps have ramped up their rhetoric, with party loyalists claiming victory on social media platforms, prompting concerns over possible unrest if expectations are not managed carefully.
As the Electoral Commission finalizes its verification process, the eyes of Malawians and indeed the international community remain fixed on Lilongwe, awaiting the official declaration that will determine whether President Chakwera retains power or whether Mutharika achieves one of the most remarkable comebacks in African politics.
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