Runoff Likely As Votes Count Continues In Malawi’s Presidential Election

Malawi began counting votes Tuesday successful a statesmanlike predetermination expected to beryllium a choky contention betwixt aged rivals. The contention could spell to a runoff, and it comes during economical turmoil successful 1 of the world’s slightest developed countries.

Voters chose to springiness President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, a 2nd word oregon take different person to lick the confederate African nation’s soaring inflation, cost-of-living situation and captious substance shortages.

Among the 16 different candidates, erstwhile President Peter Mutharika, 85, is considered a beardown challenger to instrumentality arsenic leader.

The 2 rivals faced disconnected successful 2019, erstwhile a tribunal nullified Mutharika’s triumph arsenic the incumbent implicit challenger Chakwera due to the fact that of wide irregularities. Chakwera won a historical rerun of that ballot successful 2020.

While Chakwera’s predetermination was greeted with nationalist support, the nationalist temper has changed aft 5 hard years for a mostly agrarian state with precocious poorness levels.

Election officials said polls closed successful Tuesday’s one-day vote, and counting began precocious afternoon. By law, the results indispensable beryllium announced wrong a week. Voters volition besides take the constitution of Parliament and much than 500 section authorities representatives.

Joyce Banda, different erstwhile president, and Vice President Michael Usi are besides moving for the apical position. Still, analysts spot it arsenic a two-horse contention betwixt Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party and Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party.

“The outgo of surviving is high, and with that, galore problems person increased,” said Patrick Holeya, a 48-year-old begetter of six from Thyolo.

Holeya said helium voted for Mutharika successful the erstwhile president’s location district.

“I anticipation my ballot volition pb to caring leadership. Politicians person snubbed america for excessively long, but contiguous we are the kingmakers,” helium said.

The statesmanlike predetermination is apt to spell to a runoff aft the failed 2019 ballot prompted a alteration successful Malawian electoral law. The format implemented aft 2020 requires the victor to person much than 50% of the vote. Because nary campaigner is expected to get much than 50% successful the archetypal round, a runoff and different ballot pitting Chakwera against Mutharika is expected. Any runoff indispensable beryllium held wrong 30 days of the results announcement.