By Suleman Chitera
Lilongwe, Malawi – Former President Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) is edging closer to reclaiming the presidency he lost in the 2020 fresh elections, according to official results released by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
With results from 24 of the 36 councils already declared, Mutharika has secured 2,138,746 votes, representing 66.7 percent of the 3,206,686 valid ballots counted so far. This puts him within touching distance of the constitutional 50+1 threshold, which requires a candidate to secure 2,344,587 votes to be declared winner.
What Mutharika Needs to Win
To officially cross the line, APM now requires only 205,841 votes from the remaining 12 councils. Given his commanding lead, analysts suggest that the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader is in a strong position to stage one of the most remarkable political comebacks in Malawi’s democratic history.
Chakwera’s Uphill Battle
On the other hand, incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera faces an increasingly steep challenge. To reach the same winning threshold, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader would need an unlikely 1,609,931 votes from the councils yet to declare results.
Voter Turnout and Rejected Ballots
MEC figures indicate that 3,293,767 Malawians cast their votes in the councils where results have been announced so far. Of these, 83,781 ballots were nullified as void, representing approximately 2.5 percent of the total votes cast.
What Next for Malawi?
The nation’s attention now shifts to the final 12 councils, where the last stretch of results will determine whether Mutharika cements his return to State House or if Chakwera can stage a surprise turnaround.
Political commentators argue that the numbers heavily favor APM, but in Malawi’s unpredictable political landscape, nothing is guaranteed until MEC officially declares the final tally.
