Maseru, Sept.17—Malawi began counting votes Tuesday in a presidential election that is expected to be a tight race between old rivals that could go to a runoff and comes at a time of economic turmoil in one of the world’s least-developed countries.
Voters faced a choice between giving President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, a second term or selecting another leader to solve the southern African nation’s soaring inflation, cost-of-living crisis and critical fuel shortages.
Among the 16 other candidates, former President Peter Mutharika, 85, is viewed as a strong challenger to return as leader.
The two rivals faced off in 2019, when Mutharika’s victory as the incumbent over challenger Chakwera was nullified by a court due to widespread irregularities. Chakwera won an historic rerun of that vote in 2020.
While Chakwera’s election was greeted with an outpouring of public support, the national mood has changed after five hard years for a largely rural country that already had high levels of poverty.
Polls closed in Tuesday’s one-day vote and counting began by late afternoon, according to election officials. By law the results must be announced within a week. Voters will also choose the makeup of Parliament and more than 500 local government representatives…AT/BM
