Lilongwe, Malawi – September 20, 2025 – The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has arrested eight individuals in connection with alleged attempts to manipulate election data during the 2025 General Elections.
According to National Police Headquarters Spokesperson Peter Kalaya, the arrests took place on Friday at the Nkhoma Constituency Tally Centre in Lilongwe, where the suspects were employed as Data Entry Clerks for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
Linked to Attempted Suicide of MEC Official
Kalaya revealed that the arrests follow investigations into an attempted suicide case involving Mr. Clement Chikankha, the MEC Constituency Returning Officer for Lilongwe Nkhoma Constituency. Police believe the incident may be connected to wider irregularities in election result management.
Investigations Extend to Other Districts
The Police Service further disclosed that similar reports of electoral data tampering have emerged from other districts, including Mangochi, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Machinga, and Rumphi. Investigations in these areas are ongoing as authorities tighten scrutiny over the 2025 General Elections process.
Police Call for Calm
Kalaya urged the public to remain patient as investigations continue:
“MPS urges Malawians to remain calm as it works against the clock to finalise the investigations.”
Public Confidence in Election Security
The arrests come at a critical time when Malawi is closely monitoring the transparency and credibility of the 2025 General Elections. Stakeholders, including civil society and international observers, have repeatedly called for strict enforcement of laws to ensure the integrity of the electoral process
