By Kenneth Bwanali
As Malawi awaits the official results of yesterday’s presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections, a pattern of unverified claims and inflated vote counts from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is emerging, a phenomenon that has raised concerns about electoral misinformation.
While the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) continues the meticulous process of vote tallying, the DPP has been circulating a series of unofficial “results” on social media and other platforms, many of which appear to be false.
These claims present a picture of an overwhelming victory for the party, particularly in parliamentary races.
Among the most glaring discrepancies is a claim of a massive voter turnout in Rumphi, where the DPP reportedly stated its presidential candidate received 125,000 votes.
This figure is impossible, given that the total number of registered voters in the constituency is 94,000. This kind of numerical falsehood, which suggests a turnout of over 130%, undermines the credibility of the information being disseminated.
Further analysis of the unofficial claims reveals a significant disconnect between the DPP’s narrative and on-the-ground reports from various constituencies.
Several key Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidates, whom the DPP has declared as having lost, are, in fact, reported to have won their respective races. These include:
Skeffa Chimoto (MCP): Declared a loser by the DPP, he has reportedly secured a victory.
Gerald Kampanikiza (MCP) in Dedza: The DPP has claimed his defeat, but he is widely reported to have won.
Samuel Kendel (MCP): Another aspirant who the DPP has stated has lost, contrary to reports of his victory.
Gerezeder Jeffrey (MCP) in Nkhotakota: The DPP has alleged her loss, while she is reported to have won her seat.
Moreover, the DPP’s claims of victory for two of its senior party officials have also been debunked by preliminary reports.
Alfred Gangata, DPP Vice President: Despite the DPP’s assertion that he won, reports indicate he has lost his race to an MCP candidate.
Peter Mukhito, DPP Secretary General: The DPP has declared him the winner, but sources suggest he has been defeated by MCP’s Gift Nankhuni.
The spread of such unverified and demonstrably false information during a critical period of vote counting is a cause for concern for electoral transparency and peace.
Observers are urging all political parties to refrain from premature declarations and to respect the official process being conducted by the Malawi Electoral Commission.
The public is advised to rely solely on official results released by the MEC to avoid confusion and potential for unrest.