from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi Bureau
LILONGWE, (CAJ News) – TENSIONS are deteriorating in Malawi as both parties tipped to win the presidential election claim victory.
Vote rigging claims are escalating and the electoral body coming under fire over the alleged collusion with the incumbent to compromise the outcome.
These ructions have been simmering since millions took to the polls on Tuesday to elect the president, 229 members of the National Assembly and 509 local government councillors.
Unofficial results indicated the candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), former president Peter Mutharika, edging ahead of incumbent Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
However, by Thursday both parties claimed victory, further polarising the impoverished Southern African country.
“Ready for victory parade,” the MPC declared, displaying Chakwera with a clenched fist, a sign to celebrate victory.
DPP on the other hand declared that Mutharika had made “a great return,” having led Malawi from 2014 to 2020.
It has claimed vote rigging.
“We have just received intel that MCP, after compiling their nationwide results which clearly show that His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika has won the elections, are now attempting to manufacture a case against DPP by fabricating figures and inflating them so they can submit the lies to MEC and force acceptance of that nonsense.”
MEC is the Malawi Electoral Commission.
The DPP made a string of allegations, including against journalists and media houses.
“A strong warning goes to journalists who are attempting to mislead Malawians with fabricated results. The people have spoken, and their will cannot be overturned by propaganda,” it stated.
“We have been reliably informed that state-owned broadcaster MBC (Malawi Broadcasting Corporation) has been directed by the State House not to release election results in the same manner as private media outlets are doing.”
DPP further claimed the Malawi Defence Force, Malawi Police, foreign observer missions and diplomats “already have authentic results of these elections, and they know the rightful winner.”
MCP has hit back, accusing the DPP of “naked propaganda”, sharing “fake data” and “cooking figures” and panicking.
“Propaganda cannot conceal the truth,” the incumbent party stated.
At the time of publishing this report, the Returning Officers for districts were handing over the polling results for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in the municipality to the MEC.
Over 64,1 percent of the 7,2 million registered voters participated in the election. Some 17 candidates were contesting for the election and true to predictions, it has been a two-horse race.
– CAJ News