Malawi's Electoral Commission Urges Patience Amid Election Results Claims

Tue Sep 30 2025 05:01:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The head of Malawi's electoral commission warns political parties against premature declarations of victory following the recent elections, emphasizing the need for patience until official results are released.

As tensions rise in Malawi after the recent elections, the electoral commission urges political parties to refrain from declaring victory before official results are finalized. With the major presidential candidates claiming wins, the commission's head emphasizes that only they have the authority to announce election outcomes, aiming to prevent potential disputes and ensure a fair counting process, especially in light of past electoral controversies.

The head of Malawi's electoral commission has warned political parties not to prematurely declare electoral victory, saying they should wait for the official results.

Annabel Mtalimanja's warning came after the parties of the two main presidential candidates, the incumbent Lazarus Chakwera and his predecessor Peter Mutharika, claimed they had won Tuesday's poll.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Ms. Mtalimanja stated that only the commission is mandated to release results. Malawians have been eagerly awaiting results, but the commission has not yet released any, despite nearly all votes being counted.

The commission is expected to announce the outcome only after all votes have been tallied and verified to avoid potential challenges to the final result.

A candidate needs to win more than 50% of the vote, or a run-off is held.

The 2019 election was marred by controversy when the highest court annulled then-President Mutharika's victory due to widespread irregularities. Chakwera, 70, won the re-run decisively, leading him to the presidency again. Mutharika, 85, aims for a comeback in this election.

Alongside the presidential race, Malawians also voted in parliamentary and local elections amid an economic crisis with severe shortages of fuel and foreign currency. The official inflation rate hovers around 30%, making basic living increasingly challenging.