Police in Malawi have arrested eight people for alleged electoral fraud as the country waits for the final results of Tuesday's general election.
Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu reported that the suspects, employed as data entry clerks, were attempting to tamper with the election figures.
The recent elections evoke memories of Malawi's 2019 election fiasco, where the highest court annulled President Peter Mutharika's victory due to widespread irregularities, prompting greater scrutiny during the current counting process.
Preliminary official tallies indicate Mutharika is leading in the presidential race, with Chakwera trailing behind. As a result, the electoral commission is remaining on high alert for potential manipulations.
Malawi is set to release additional results from its 36 districts over the weekend, with a candidate required to secure over 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off.
Chakwera's Malawi Congress Party has already filed a complaint with the electoral body, citing discovered irregularities during the counting process. Similarly, the United Democratic Front has reported serious irregularities in multiple tallying centres, though specific evidence has not been disclosed by their candidate, Atupele Muluzi.
In a move to ensure transparency and avoid challenges to the election outcomes, the electoral commission will announce results only after all ballots have been thoroughly counted and verified. According to the law, the commission must finalize the results by the end of Wednesday.
The significance of these elections is underscored by the ongoing economic crisis, with escalating inflation impacting daily life in Malawi.
