Mutharika takes early lead: Malawi vote results trickle in
Vote results began trickling in dribs and drabs for the country’s fifth elections since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1994 and opposition Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika has taken an early lead from but with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarous Chakwera close behinds from about 26 percent of the tabulated 25 percent of elections results.
Africa’s second female president Joyce Banda is facing stiff challenges from a field of 12 candidates. Banda and Chakwera followed with 22 and 23 percent respectively and and United Democratic Front (UDF) torch bearer Atupele Muluzi was trailing fourth. The final results could be anyone’s guess.
Final results should be announced within eight days of voting but MEC is likely to declare winner of presidential elections by Friday.
A total of 18 parties have fielded candidates for 193 parliamentary seats and 462 local government posts.
By6 AM Wednesday this morning the Malawi Electoral Commission was yet to receive
official results, but those tabulated by various agencies indicated that from the total of 17 districts, the DPP candidate had made surprise inroads into strongholds of all his rivals like Zomba for Joyce Banda, Lilongwe for Chakwera and Mangochi for UDF’s Atupele Muluzi.
Muluzi is trailing at 13percent so far.
Vice President Khumbo Kachali got his Mzimba South West seat back.
President Banda was winning convincingly in the Northern Region, though districts like Chitipa and Karonga did not give her overwhelming vote, while Rumphi which has also elected Kamlepo Kaluwa as MP for Rumphi East delivered a 80 percent vote for the PP.
In the Centre, out of Kasungu’s 231 polling centres, only 15 had reported giving Chakwera a small lead but the major fight for Parliamentary seat is expected at Kasungu Central. Mutharika is coming third in the district.
However in Lilongwe, Chakwera is expected to increase his stakes with the 1 million voters which could limit runaway chances for the DPP candidate and allow Banda to recover with her second position in the South and Centre.
Mutharika is facing a tough battle in Mulanje where PP has made a considerable showing, while he is an outright winner in Thyolo with close to 90 percent approval rating.
Only 635 of the 4445 polling centres have reported through various platforms and results are expected to change as the results come through the day.
Up to 7.5 million Malawians registered for the vote and with the closeness of the poll, it would be too early to call the curtain on Africa’s second female President.
Results from constituencies across the country are expected to continue trickling in as most totalling centres tally results from polling stations.
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