Malawi Election: Eight Arrested Over Alleged Vote Tampering
Malawi police arrest eight data entry clerks accused of manipulating general election results amid high alert after previous annulled vote.
Malawi police have arrested eight data entry clerks suspected of manipulating the results of Tuesday’s general election, Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu said.
The arrests follow concerns after Malawi’s 2019 presidential vote was annulled by the court due to widespread irregularities, including the use of Tipp-Ex on tally sheets. Current tallies show incumbent Peter Mutharika leading, with Lazarus Chakwera trailing.
With results pending from 36 districts, the Electoral Commission is under pressure to verify all votes before declaring a winner or calling a run-off if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party has already filed a complaint claiming irregularities in the count.
Economic Crisis Looms Large
The campaign has been dominated by Malawi’s deepening economic crisis. Inflation hovers near 30%, severely affecting daily life. In Lilongwe, a frozen chicken now costs around $20, even as most citizens survive on less than $2 per day.
Chakwera, 70, won the 2020 re-run by a wide margin. Mutharika, 85, is seeking a dramatic comeback. Voters also cast ballots in parliamentary and local elections.
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- How brave judges rejected a 'second-rate election'
Visit INLIBERAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
The arrests highlight ongoing fears that Malawi’s elections remain vulnerable to fraud, underscoring the importance of transparent vote verification.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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