Malawi's Electoral Chief Cautions Parties Against Premature Victory Claims

Fri Oct 17 2025 10:51:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Malawi's electoral commission has issued a grave warning to political parties, urging them to refrain from declaring electoral victories before official results are announced after the recent presidential polls.

Following Tuesday's election, Malawi's electoral chief Annabel Mtalimanja cautioned political parties, especially those of incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and his opponent Peter Mutharika, against prematurely claiming victory. She emphasized that only the commission is authorized to release results, which are being awaited amid concerns over accuracy and integrity. The commission aims to ensure all votes are accurately counted and verified, as the nation grapples with a significant economic crisis amidst heightened political tensions.

The head of Malawi's electoral commission has warned political parties not to prematurely declare electoral victory, stating they must wait for the official results. Annabel Mtalimanja's warning followed claims from both major parties—those of incumbent Lazarus Chakwera and former President Peter Mutharika—that they had won Tuesday’s election.

At a press conference on Thursday, Mtalimanja stressed that the commission alone holds the mandate to release official results. Despite the near completion of the vote counting process, the commission has not yet announced any outcomes, much to the anticipation and anxiety of Malawians.

The electoral commission aims to announce the final results only after thorough tallying and verification of all votes to prevent any potential challenges against the results, which may arise from a lack of clarity. To be declared a winner, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the votes, or else a run-off election will be held.

The last election in 2019 was plagued with controversy when the highest court nullified Mutharika's victory due to rampant irregularities, positioning Chakwera, 70, to win the subsequent re-run decisively. Mutharika, currently 85, seeks a political comeback in this high-stakes election.

This election also saw parliamentary and local elections coincide with growing concerns over an economic crisis in Malawi, characterized by severe shortages of fuel and foreign currency. The official inflation rate hovers around 30%, making basic commodities exceedingly expensive in a country where the average citizen lives on just $2 a day.