Chilima votes despite 40 minutes delay, satisfied with early turnout

May 21, 2019 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 10 Comments

The  man who wants to be Malawi’s next president  Saulos Chilima on Tuesaday  arrived  early at St Thomas Polling Centre in the country’s capital  Lilongwe to cast his vote in  the watershed poll but was delayed for  almost 40 minutes  as his name could not be found in the voters register.

Waiting: For close to 40 minutes, polling staff could not find Chilima’s name in the voters register even after producing his voter certificate.
UTM presidential candidate Saulos Chilima cast his vote at St Thomas Polling Centre in Lilongwe.
UTM presidential running mate Michael Usi casting his vote at Mulanje CCAP Mission

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) could not find his name in the voters register even after producing his voter certificate.

The polling staff later sorted out the problem and he was allowed to cast his ballot.

After voting, Chilima expressed satisfaction with the turnout so far and appealed to registered Malawians to go out and vote.

“Everything  is fine,” he said.

Chilima‚ the leader of the UTM Party and current State vice-president‚ is in a tight race with the ruling DPP’s candidate and incumbent President Peter Mutharika.

He told a throng of journalists that he cannot say what his next move will be until the results of the election are known.

Chilima, who dumped the ruling party last year to form the youth-focused UTM, while staying on as vice president,  declined to comment on the response by MEC to his allegations of planned rigging.

A high turnout of voters characterised almost every polling station in the country early in the morning.

In Malawi’s “winner takes all” system, Mutharika won in 2014 with just 36 percent of the vote.

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10 replies on “Chilima votes despite 40 minutes delay, satisfied with early turnout”

  1. There is possibility of SKC conniving with the MEC official to gain popularity, sympathy and continue with secret campaign beyond closure date. His body language does not suggest someone affected mistakenly. His presence at the polling centre for 40 minutes created an environment where other voters could see him and sway their minds.

  3. May the LORD God guide DR SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA our hope – the only hope for Malawi.

  7. Start the discussion…A winner-takes-all government at this day and age is very oppressive.
    The more we seek for an all- inclusive govt to prevent sidelining others, the better.
    Best wishes from Kenya and may the best candidate win.

    1. The other options arent that much better, they lead to weak coalition governments and dont necessarily get elected by the majority. 50+1 doesnt mean 50% of the population vote for you. actually you could have a situation where 39% of the original vote is bigger that 51% of the rerun as some people dont turnout.

    1. Best wishes to all voters and may the best candidate be choosen by God. Wishes from Mozambique.

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