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 stated that the suspects, who were employed as data entry clerks, were attempting to manipulate election figures.
The urgency behind these arrests reflects a heightened state of alert following the controversial 2019 elections, which were annulled due to widespread irregularities. Official tallies currently indicate that former President Peter Mutharika is leading the electoral race, with incumbent Lazarus Chakwera trailing behind.
More election results are anticipated from Malawi's 36 districts this weekend. A candidate must secure over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
In the meantime, Chakwera's Malawi Congress Party has filed a complaint with the electoral commission concerning alleged irregularities in the count, although specifics haven't been disclosed. Similarly, the United Democratic Front has reported serious discrepancies in several tallying centers.
The electoral commission aims to announce the final results only after all votes have been verified to prevent the outcome from being challenged. According to the law, they have until the end of Wednesday to finalize the tallies.
The backdrop of these elections is a significant economic crisis, with the official inflation rate nearing 30%, creating hardships for many Malawians.
