Home » World » Chakwera wins Malawi elections after previous failed ballot box | NOW

Chakwera wins Malawi elections after previous failed ballot box | NOW

Opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera won the presidential election of Malawi on Saturday. On Tuesday, residents had to go to the polls again, after the judge declared last year’s election results invalid due to fraud.

Incumbent President Peter Mutharika (79) won the election thirteen months ago with a narrow lead over his opponent Chakwera (38.6 to 35.4 percent).

This election result caused a lot of unrest and protests in the country. The opposition spoke of fraud and on closer inspection it was indeed found on a large number of ballot papers that tipp-ex, a white correction fluid, had been used to falsify votes. The Malawi Constitutional Court declared the result invalid in February and determined that the elections would be held about.

Chakwera, 65, won last Tuesday’s election with a majority of 58.6 percent of the vote. The turnout was over 64 percent. Chakwera becomes president of the East African country for five years.

“My victory is a victory for democracy and justice,” Chakwera said after his victory was announced. People took to the streets in capital Lilongwe to celebrate the results.

Profit for democracy in Africa

According to observers, it is a huge profit for democracy in the African country that is plagued by poverty. The opposition leader’s gains are seen as evidence that the judiciary may be able to tackle electoral fraud in Africa.

Losing current President Mutharika has not yet acknowledged his loss and says irregularities have occurred in Tuesday’s elections. However, this is contradicted by the election committee that supervised.

Due to the corona virus, no international observers were present.

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