MWE Correspondent
Tension is building in Malawi after the country’s two biggest political parties each declared themselves winners of the recent presidential election, plunging the nation into uncertainty just days after voting.
The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), led by incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, issued a statement insisting it had secured a decisive win. At the same time, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), fronted by former President Peter Mutharika, announced that its own tallies showed it had claimed victory. Both parties celebrated their supposed triumphs, but neither has provided evidence that meets legal standards or has been confirmed by the electoral authority.
The only body empowered to declare results, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), has urged calm and patience. Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja confirmed that nearly all polling stations have been counted, but stressed that results will only be made public once every vote is properly verified. “We cannot be swayed by political pressure. The commission will follow due process,” she told reporters in Lilongwe.
This stand-off has left citizens in suspense. In marketplaces, bus stations, and homes across Malawi, people are quietly debating what might happen if neither side accepts the other’s victory. Some fear the situation could escalate if political leaders fail to respect the rules.
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Reports of irregularities have further complicated matters. The MCP has accused election officials in several districts of manipulating results, with some clerks allegedly arrested for tampering with tallies. MEC has promised to investigate all claims, including conducting physical audits where necessary.
Civil society organisations have sharply criticised both parties for prematurely declaring victory. The Malawi Law Society described the announcements as “irresponsible” and “unlawful,” warning that such claims risk undermining public confidence in the entire electoral process. It reminded politicians that only the commission has the legal mandate to release results.
Under Malawi’s constitution, MEC has eight days after voting to declare an official winner. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the election will head to a second round. For now, the country waits anxiously, with many praying that the final outcome will be accepted peacefully.
