BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s political scene has been thrown into heightened tension following the September 16th general elections, as both the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have declared themselves winners.
On Wednesday, September 17, senior party officials from both sides held separate press briefings, each confidently claiming that their respective presidential candidates had secured victory based on unofficial results that have started circulating across various media platforms and social networks.
The race is mainly between President Lazarus Chakwera of MCP, who is seeking re -election and former President Peter Mutharika of the DPP, who is attempting a political comeback after being voted out of office in 2020.
Alfred Gangata, the Vice President for DPP in the Central Region, addressed journalists in Lilongwe and declared that Mutharika had taken a commanding lead in the polls.
Gangata pointed to figures being tallied at various constituency tally centers, suggesting that the DPP was gaining strong support across the country.
According to Gangata, Mutharika has performed exceptionally well in the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Malawi, making it nearly impossible for the ruling party to catch up.
“Looking at the numbers coming in from the North, our president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, has completely swept the area. Even in the Central Region, which the MCP calls its stronghold, our candidate has surprised everyone with overwhelming votes,” Gangata said with confidence.
He went further to mock MCP’s performance in some areas, saying their vote numbers were so low that they could be compared to the size of a shoe.
This remark sparked mixed reactions on social media with some DPP supporters celebrating while MCP loyalists criticized it as disrespectful and divisive.
Gangata has also urged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to act transparently to avoid violence and mistrust.
On the other hand, the MCP struck a calm and measured tone during its own press briefing at the party headquarters in Lilongwe.
Party spokesperson Jessie Kabwila told reporters that President Lazarus Chakwera was on course for a clear victory but the party was waiting for MEC to release the verified results before making a definitive statement.
Kabwila emphasized that MCP’s silence should not be mistaken for weakness or confusion. Instead, she said, it was a sign of respect for the country’s electoral laws and democratic processes.
“We are confident that the people of Malawi have once again entrusted President Lazarus Chakwera with the mandate to continue serving this nation. However, we are patiently waiting for MEC to complete its work. We urge our supporters to remain calm and peaceful during this period,” she stated.
Kabwila also issued a stern warning against any attempts to spread misinformation or provoke violence, saying that Malawi cannot afford to return to a cycle of political unrest.
She urged the media to report responsibly and avoid publishing unverified results that could mislead the public.
Unofficial tallies circulating online indicate a very tight race, especially in key battleground districts such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Mangochi.
Some reports suggest that voter turnout was particularly high in urban centers, which traditionally lean toward opposition parties.
