MEC gazettes results of the presidential election including irregularities that Chakwera demanded and went to court for

* As MEC chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja declares that Peter Mutharika is the 7th President of the Republic of Malawi, who attained 3,035,249 votes representing 56.75% of the total valid cast

* Lazarus Chakwera came second with 1,765,170 (33.0%); UTM’s Dalitso Kabambe 3rd with 211,413 (4.0%); UDF’s Atupele Muluzi 4th with 102,744 (1.9%); and People’s Party’s Joyce Banda 5th with 86,106 (1.6%)

By Duncan Mlanjira

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has gazetted the results of the September 16 presidential election including complaints of irregularities that were filed by Malawi Congress Party (UTM), United Democratic Front (UDF) and UTM Party.

In his address to the national address yesterday to concede defeat, outgoing President Lazarus Chakwera asked MEC “to provide a full and transparent account of the irregularities, a full and transparent account of how they happened, a full and transparent account of how they have been resolved, and a full and transparent account of how those who committed fouls will be held accountable”.

He added that he was of the view that MEC “needed to do this before announcing the final result” and that he even asked the High Court to prevail on MEC to do this before the final announcement.

He also conceded that the Court ruled that MEC should be allowed to address these matters during its final press briefing — and he accepted the Court’s direction.

However, Chakwera said the anomalies from the three parties do not necessarily mean that the election result projecting Mutharika as the winner was “not credible or a reflection of the will of the people” — only to be done to “ensure that our electoral process and our democracy is stronger as we move forward”.

In her declaration of the presidential election, MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja — whom Chakwera applauded for handling the electoral process “with flying colours” — as “required under section 96 (2) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, 2023, all complaints have been considered and determined and the complainants have been issued with comprehensive responses in writing”.

“The decisions taken on the complaints have been recorded in the Record of Determination of Results which will be published in the Gazette as required by law.”

In accordance with section 80 (2) of the Constitution and section 95 (6) (a) of the Act, Justice Mtalimanja thus declared that Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) attained 3,035,249 votes representing 56.75% of the total valid votes cast and is duly elected as President of the Republic of Malawi.

There were 7,203,390 registered voters, of which 5,502,982 turned up for voting (76.4%); 155,225 being void votes (2.8%); with 5,347,757 being total valid votes.

Chakwera earned 1,765,170 votes representing (33.0%); UTM’s Dalitso Kabambe 211,413 (4.0%); UDF’s Atupele Muluzi 102,744 (1.9%); People’s Party’s Joyce Banda 86,106 (1.6%); Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi’s Akwame Bandawe 40,052 (0.7%); independent Thokozani Manyika Banda 22,614 (0.4%); People’s Transformation Party’s Kamuzu Chibambo 17,274 (0.3%); Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu’s Michael Bizwick Usi 16,922 (0.3%); People’s Development Party’s Kondwani Nankhumwa 12,251 (0.2%).

Independent candidates Phunziro Mvula got 9,378 (0.2%); Cosmas Chipojola 8,638 (0.2%); Adil Chilungo 8,462 (0.2%); National Development Party’s Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo 5,354 (0.1%); Patriotic Citizens Party’s Jordan Sauti 2,196 (0.04%);  of total valid votes; independent candidates Milward Tobias 2,086 (0.04%); Smart Swira 1,848 (0.03%).

Justice Mtalimanja emphasised that the swearing in of president and vice-president elect is not MEC’s responsibility but other relevant government offices as according

to law, Section 81(3) of the Constitution, which also include that the two cannot be sworn in into office before lapse of seven days from today and not later than 30 days from yesterday.

She added that MEC will continue sitting to consider and make determination on Parliamentary and Local Government elections results and to declare winners, citing that according to law, MEC has 14 days from the day of voting to declare winners for Parliamentary elections and 21 days from the day of voting to declare the Local Government elections.

“In the same manner that we have approached the presidential election results we will be announcing as when we complete determination council by council,” she declared.

She expressed her congratulations to the President-elect and the vice-president, saying: “You have been elected by the people of Malawi to lead them into a brighter future. You have been bestowed with the heavy responsibility of leading the development agenda of the nation for the next five years.

“I urge you to work and perform to your best and not betray the trust and confidence of the people of Malawi who have elected you as their President and vice-president.

“For those who have not made it this time, I say that this is the decision of the majority of Malawian voters and we must accept it with grace and generosity. And I encourage you to continue to play your part in building Malawi into a greater nation.

“To everyone out there, I wish to say that what binds us together as Malawians is much stronger than what separates us into political parties. Let us all work together to serve our country and to give our future generation a better, stronger and prosperous Malawi.”