Lilongwe – Police in Malawi have arrested eight people accused of tampering with election figures as the country awaits the official outcome of Tuesday’s general election.
Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu confirmed that the suspects were employed as data entry clerks and allegedly attempted to manipulate vote tallies.
The development comes as Malawi’s electoral commission continues to compile results from 36 districts. Early figures suggest former president Peter Mutharika is leading, followed by incumbent Lazarus Chakwera. A candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off.
Concerns about credibility remain fresh in Malawi, where Mutharika’s 2019 victory was annulled by the courts due to widespread irregularities, including tampering with results sheets. That ruling forced a re-run in which Chakwera, now 70, won by a wide margin.
This year, Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party has already lodged a complaint with the electoral commission, alleging irregularities in the vote count. The United Democratic Front has also filed a complaint claiming “serious irregularities” at several tally centres. Its presidential candidate, Atupele Muluzi, said evidence had been submitted to the commission.
Officials said final results will only be declared once all tallies are verified, with the commission legally required to announce the outcome by Wednesday.
Alongside the presidential race, Malawians also voted in parliamentary and local elections. The campaign was dominated by the economic crisis, with inflation nearing 30 percent, a severe shortage of fuel and foreign currency, and food prices soaring in a country where many citizens survive on less than $2 a day.
Mutharika, 85, is attempting a political comeback after being removed from office five years ago.
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