MALAWI ELECTIONS: Presidential Results Out
Peter Mutharika, Malawi’s President has attained 38.5% of the total vote cast on 21 May to secure a second term in office.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) delayed announcing the presidential result as per the High Court directive. The order followed opposition leader, Challenger Lazarus Chakwera’s application seeking to delay the results citing electoral irregularities. Chakwera’s party wanted recounts in at least 10 of the country’s 28 voting districts.
The results were announced on Monday (27/05/2019) after the High Court injunction was lifted. Results for the top three contestants were as follows:
- President Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – 38.5%
- Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party (MCP) – 35.4%.
- Saulos Chilima (President Mutharika’s deputy) just over 20%.
A few days before the election day, Mutharika’s deputy, Chilima claimed that former Zimbabwe police chief commissioner, Augustine Chihuri had been hired to help the government in recruiting a secret police force that would be used to manipulate the electoral process and results. These allegations were however dismissed by the government of Malawi.
The High court order that delayed the announcement of the presidential results was effected following 147 reports of irregularities.
More: BBC
