Police in Malawi have arrested eight individuals for alleged electoral fraud as the country waits for the final results of Tuesday's general election.
Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu stated that the suspects, who were working as data entry clerks, were attempting to manipulate the voting figures.
Malawi's 2019 election had already been marked by controversy when the highest court annulled then President Peter Mutharika's victory due to widespread irregularities, leading the electoral commission to remain vigilant for potential issues this time around.
Current unofficial tallies suggest Mutharika is leading the race, with incumbent Lazarus Chakwera trailing behind.
Results from Malawi's 36 districts are expected soon, however, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
In the meantime, the Malawi Congress Party, led by Chakwera, lodged a complaint with the electoral commission regarding alleged irregularities. The United Democratic Front also reported serious issues across various tallying centers, although no specific evidence has been presented to date.
The commission is committed to validating all votes before releasing official results to minimize the risk of disputes. According to the law, the electoral commission must announce the final tallies by the end of Wednesday.
The previous election's annulment highlighted serious concerns over the electoral process, including tampering claims involving correction fluid on result sheets.
In the current election cycle, both Chakwera and Mutharika, long-time political adversaries, are vying for leadership against the backdrop of economic distress characterized by soaring inflation and critical shortages of fuel and currency.
