* Fully committed to meeting the eight-day deadline without compromising accuracy and integrity as MEC is working tirelessly, day and night, to complete the exercise
* Each set of results undergoes a strict process of verification, reconciliation, and validation before being accepted
* This procedure takes time, but it is essential to guarantee that every figure announced is accurate and credible
By Duncan Mlanjira
As political parties and stakeholders are disconcerted over the delay to declare the presidential winner of the September 16 election by threatening to organise wild street celebration or street demonstration, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) emphasises that no tactic will pressure them to declare results before due process is complete.
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MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja made the declaration last evening when she presented her 12th update on the progress on receipt of results at the National Tally Centre at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, stressing that the law provides that MEC “must determine and announce the final results of the presidential election within eight days from the date of polling”.
“This legal timeframe is both a safeguard and a responsibility. It ensures that results are delivered speedily while allowing enough time for thorough verification and resolution of complaints.
“We are now in a critical phase with all results at the National Tally Centre from district tally centres. Each set of results undergoes a strict process of verification, reconciliation, and validation before being accepted.
“This procedure takes time, but it is essential to guarantee that every figure announced is accurate and credible. The Commission is also handling complaints from candidates, parties, and stakeholders.
“Each complaint is being examined carefully and addressed in accordance with the law. This is important because we must not only declare results quickly, but also ensure that those results withstand scrutiny and command public confidence.
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She thus reassured Malawians that MEC is fully committed to meeting the eight-day deadline without compromising accuracy and integrity that the electoral teams are working tirelessly, day and night, to complete this exercise.
She adivised that violence, intimidation, and public disorder will not change the figures, nor will they alter the law — instead, such actions only serve to endanger lives, destroy property, and undermine the very democracy we all fought hard to establish.
“We also appeal to political leaders to exercise restraint and to guide their supporters toward peace, patience, and respect for the rule of law.”
Justice Mtalimanja reported that having received physical records from the last council, Mangochi District, results from all the 36 councils have been brought to the national tally centre physically and they have also completed the determination of the results from Machinga Nkhotakota and Nkhata Bay — remaining with Ntcheu and Mangochi Municipality
The issues that MEC found the results from three councils were mostly in relation to some minor discrepancies that were observed and have since been resolved and continues to review and resolve complaints from the other two with the complainants to be informed in the manner in which the complaints have been resolved.
She thus moved on to declare the determination of results stating that Machinga had a total of 253,176 registered voters of which a total of 206,559 turned up, representing 81.6% of which 5,279 were void (2.6%) — thus having 201,280 as valid votes from which Peter Mutharika earned 177,387, Atupele Muluzi 10,598, Lazarus Chakwera 4,541, Dalitso Kabambe 2,492 and Joyce Banda 2,480 as the top five from 17 candidates.
Nkhotakota: 172,331 registered voters; 116,945 turned up (67.9%); 3,973 void (3.4%); 112,972 valid; Mutharika (52,259); Chakwera (50,776); Kabambe (2,866); Atupele (1,801), Joyce Banda (1,606),
Lilongwe City: 409,625 registered voters; 305,858 turned up (74.7%); 7,927 void (2.6%); 97,931 valid; Mutharika (145,908); Chakwera (112,787); Kabambe (28,570); Atupele (4,875); and Joyce Banda (1,438).
Dowa: 347,295 registered voters; 256,698 turned up (73.9%); 8.900 void (3.5%); 247,798 valid; Chakwera (216,091); Mutharika (15,906); Kabambe (3,534); Joyce Banda (3,522) and independent Thokozani Banda (1,429).
Chikwawa: 270,767 registered voters; 213,518 turned up (78.9%); 7,064 void (3.3%); 206,454 valid; Mutharika (187,283); Chakwera (7,290); Atupele (3,227); Kabambe (2,736); Joyce Banda (1,567).
Nsanje: 147,500 registered voters; 113,704 turned up (77.1%); 3,781 void (3.3%); 109,923 valid; Mutharika (93,197); Chakwera (10,063); Kabambe (1,619); Atupele (1,584); Joyce Banda (689).
Zomba District: 289,428 registered voters; 241,553 turned up (83.5%); 4,833 void (2.0%); 236,720 valid; Mutharika (213,241); Chakwera (5,676); Joyce Banda (4,414); Atupele (5,624); Kabambe (3,761).
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Blantyre City: 306,531 registered voters; 253,445 turned up (82.7%); 4,647 void (1.8%); 248,798 valid; Mutharika (197,532); Kabambe (25,572); Chakwera (17,419); Atupele (4,783); Michael Usi (1,087).
Mzimba (M’mbelwa): 371,563 registered voters; 269,140 turned up (72.4%); 7,369 void (2.7%); 261,771 valid; Mutharika (118,117); Chakwera (91,509); Joyce Banda (20,182); Kabambe (19,876); independent Thokozani Banda (1,999).
Balaka: 170,027 registered voters; 137,121 turned up (80.6%); 2,905 void (2.1%); 134,216 valid; Mutharika (120,021); Atupele (4,543); Kabambe (3,389); Chakwera (3,343); Joyce Banda (914).
Thyolo District: 253,105 registered voters; 215,377 turned up (85.1%); 4,222 void (2.0%); 211,155 valid; Mutharika (200,131); Chakwera (2,943); Kabambe (2,516); Atupele (2,463); Joyce Banda (574).
Chitipa: 86,980 registered voters; 68,131 turned up (78.3%); 1,173 votes (1.7%); 66,958 valid; Mutharika (35,827); Chakwera (13,936); Kabambe (9,035), Joyce Banda (4,743).
Rumphi: 94,936 registered voters; 67,982 turning up (71.6%); 1,390 void (2.0%); 66,592 valid; Mutharika )29,957); Chakwera (24,486); Kabambe (6,627); Joyce Banda (3,066).
Mulanje: 279,761 registered voters; 231,763 turned up (82.8%); 5,251 void (2.3%); 226,512 valid; Mutharika (207,596); Kondwani Nankhumwa (6,777); Kabambe (2,579).
Mzuzu City: 76,629 registered voters; 56,776 turned up (74.1%); 967 void (1.7 percent); 55,809 valid; Mutharika (25,077); Chakwera (15,013); Kabambe (12,782).
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Karonga Town Council: 26,702 registered voters; 18,235 turned up (68.3%); 463 void (2.5%); 17,772 valid Mutharika (8,971); Chakwera (4,388); Kabambe (3,413).
Zomba City: 57,250 registered voters; 45,185 turned up (78.9%); 619 void (1.4%); 44,566 valid; Mutharika (35,536); Kabambe (3,990); Chakwera (3,472).
Ntchisi: 141,799 registered voters; 104,757 turned up (73.9%); 2,923 void (2.8%) 101,834 valid; Chakwera (81,635); Mutharika (11,365); Kabambe (2,671).
Salima: 186,585 registered voters; 128,351 turned up (68.8%); 5,236 void (4.1%); 123,115 valid; Mutharika (60,830); Chakwera (49,443); Kabambe (3,673).
Neno: 41,433 turned up (81.5%); 770 void (1.9%); Mutharika (36,607); Chakwera (1,370); Kabambe (1,024).
Likoma: 8,664 registered voters; 6,937 turned up (80%); 143 void (2%); 6,794 valid; Mutharika (4,177); Chakwera (1,817); Kabambe 485.
Kasungu Municipality: 25,645 registered voters; 18,614 turned up (73%); 373 void (2%); 18,241 valid votes Chakwera (8,818); Mutharika (7,831); Dalitso Kabambe (1,019).
Luchenza Municipality: 10,237 registered voters; 8,455 turned up (83%); 127 void (2%); 8,328 valid (Mutharika (7,547); Chakwera (336); Kabambe (232).
Mwanza: 51,045 registered voters; 38,011 turned (74%); 1,210 void (3%); 36,801 valid; Mutharika (30,576); Chakwera (2,228); Kabambe (2,203).
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