United Democratic Front (UDF) says it has petitioned the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), alleging voting irregularities in multiple districts and demanding a recount of the ballots.
UDF president Atupele Muluzi said this at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, barely hours after the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) made a similar announcement.
Speaking at the press briefing, Muluzi—accompanied by his running mate Frank Kalolo, said the alleged anomalies pertain to the number of voters not tallying with those that voted in Blantyre, Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga and Zomba districts.
He said UDF wants signed copies for the particular districts and a recount, stressing that the party’s lawyers are ready to take the matter to court if a need arises.
Muluzi said: “My heart is heavy today. We went to the poll in good faith, believing every vote would be counted and every voice heard. That faith has been shaken.
“We now wait for MEC’s response. We will not, at this stage, detail evidence submitted because we respect due processes of the law.”
On Friday night, MCP, led by President Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate Vitumbiko Mumba, also told the press in Lilongwe they suspect voter manipulation; hence, lodging its complaint to MEC.
He alleged that some presiding officers and constituency returning officers manipulated data in favour of specific candidates in 13 districts.
MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa yesterday said the electoral body will address all such concerns at once.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) has described the general election as free, fair and credible.
In a statement yesterday, MAM secretary general Alhaj Twaibu Lawe appealed to Malawians to remain calm and maintain peace and order.
Reads the statement: “We applaud MEC for starting to update the public with official results for the general election. Further, MAM commends the government security agencies for their professionalism they are displaying during discharge of their duties.”
Meanwhile, independent presidential candidate Adil Chilungo alongside People’s Development party (PDP) president Kondwani Nankhumwa have conceded defeat.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, Chilungo said Malawians must maintain peace as the official results are yet to be announced while Nankhumwa said despite being defeated, his party is here to stay and will strategise for 2030.
Nankhumwa, who was expelled from the Democratic Progressive Party and went on to form PDP, said his party cannot be defined by one election cycle.
