Malawi🇲🇼 President Takes Lead in🗳 Election Count

Malawian President Peter Mutharika leads his main rival in this week's election-winning more than 40 per cent of votes cast, according to figures released on Thursday with three-quarters of votes counted. Mutharika, who heads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is fighting for a second five-year term, has 40.49 per cent of the vote, the Electoral Commission said.

Opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera had 35.44 per cent, while Vice President Saulos Chilima was on 18 per cent, according to the partial results.

Mutharika, 78, campaigned for a second five-year term on his record of improving Malawi's scant road and power infrastructure.
 
But his government has been dogged by several high-profile cases of corruption and nepotism.

Chakwera on Wednesday warned of alleged attempts to rig Tuesday's election, saying his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was conducting its own count that showed he was ahead.

The southeastern African country has around 6.8 million potential voters, with more than half aged under 35. Turnout data has not been published.