In brief
Polling in Malawi has closed, with citizens now awaiting election results amid growing dissatisfaction over economic conditions. Current President Lazarus Chakwera seeks re-election against former leader Peter Mutharika, with a significant portion of the population voicing concerns regarding rising food costs and employment challenges. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff will be necessary.
Malawians are waiting to find out who their next president will be as polls have closed in most parts of the country and counting has started.
Thousands of people queued outside polling stations on Tuesday to vote for a president, MPs and local councillors, keenly hoping to effect change in a country swamped by economic troubles. Some are still voting in areas where polling started late.
In his campaign for a second term, current President Lazarus Chakwera pledged to fix Malawi's economy - as did his main rival, octogenarian former leader Peter Mutharika.
If no candidate wins more than half the votes, the top two contenders will head to a runoff.
There is anger in us. I want to change this government. I want young people to be in good jobs, Ettah Nyasulu, a 28-year-old waitress, told the AFP press agency before heading out to vote.
Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world, but recent times have been especially punishing. Food costs have been rising at more than 30% in the last year and wages have not kept pace.
The high inflation rate has partly been attributed to a shortage of foreign currency in the banks.
The election is effectively a two-horse race between Chakwera and the man he beat in 2020, 85-year-old Mutharika. However, there are 15 other candidates, including another former president and the country's only female head of state, Joyce Banda.
Polling stations reported a smooth process overall, although there were some delays due to problems with biometric fingerprint readers. The counting of votes began as soon as the polls closed.
The Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to announce the presidential result by September 24.
