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Malawi presidential election: Voters turn out for historic re-run | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Malawians are voting in a re-run election a year on from President Peter Mutharika's disputed victory that was annulled nearly five months ago. | |
Mr Mutharika, who wants a second term, is up against Lazarus Chakwera, who heads an opposition coalition. | Mr Mutharika, who wants a second term, is up against Lazarus Chakwera, who heads an opposition coalition. |
Evidence of vote tampering including correction fluid on tally sheets led to judges scrapping his May 2019 victory and ordering a fresh election. | Evidence of vote tampering including correction fluid on tally sheets led to judges scrapping his May 2019 victory and ordering a fresh election. |
The country's judiciary has been widely praised for its robust response. | The country's judiciary has been widely praised for its robust response. |
Malawi became the second African nation to annul a presidential election over irregularities, after Kenya in 2017. | Malawi became the second African nation to annul a presidential election over irregularities, after Kenya in 2017. |
The country has been bitterly divided in the run-up to Tuesday's re-run, the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza reports. | The country has been bitterly divided in the run-up to Tuesday's re-run, the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza reports. |
Widespread anti-government protests and violence have threatened to plunge Malawi into an even deeper crisis. | Widespread anti-government protests and violence have threatened to plunge Malawi into an even deeper crisis. |
Speaking after he had voted in southern Malawi, Mr Mutharika alleged there had been violence in some opposition strongholds, the Reuters news agency reports. | |
"It is very sad. Our secretary general has been beaten up. Those causing the violence are desperate," it quotes the president as saying. | |
"How then will the election be credible?" he asked. | |
There has been no verification of these reports. | |
On casting his vote in the capital, Lilongwe, Mr Chakwera said that he had "confidence in the electoral commission to do what is right". | |
"I believe that Malawians' quest for justice is actually being answered today. And I believe their rights will be respected," he added. | |
Whoever wins the election, will have to heal these deep divisions as well as tackle key electoral issues such as corruption, poverty and unemployment. | Whoever wins the election, will have to heal these deep divisions as well as tackle key electoral issues such as corruption, poverty and unemployment. |
Why is there a new vote? | Why is there a new vote? |
A re-run of the May 2019 election was ordered by Malawi's Constitutional Court in February after judges found widespread irregularities with the original ballot. | A re-run of the May 2019 election was ordered by Malawi's Constitutional Court in February after judges found widespread irregularities with the original ballot. |
That election saw President Mutharika narrowly re-elected by less than 159,000 votes with a 38.6% share of the vote. Mr Chakwera came second with 35.4%. | That election saw President Mutharika narrowly re-elected by less than 159,000 votes with a 38.6% share of the vote. Mr Chakwera came second with 35.4%. |
Mr Chakwera and the candidate who came third argued that the election had not been fair. | Mr Chakwera and the candidate who came third argued that the election had not been fair. |
Their complaints included allegations that vote tallying forms had been added up incorrectly and tampered with using correction fluid - known in Malawi by its brand name Tipp-Ex. | Their complaints included allegations that vote tallying forms had been added up incorrectly and tampered with using correction fluid - known in Malawi by its brand name Tipp-Ex. |
Uncertainty around the result sparked months of tension and protests, which spilled over into clashes between opposition supporters and police across the country. | Uncertainty around the result sparked months of tension and protests, which spilled over into clashes between opposition supporters and police across the country. |
February's decision to annul the election led some to celebrate, but Mr Mutharika described it as a "serious subversion of justice" which marked the death of the country's democracy. | February's decision to annul the election led some to celebrate, but Mr Mutharika described it as a "serious subversion of justice" which marked the death of the country's democracy. |
Last month, Malawi's former electoral commission chair Jane Ansah resigned following months of pressure by protesters who criticised her handling of the poll. | Last month, Malawi's former electoral commission chair Jane Ansah resigned following months of pressure by protesters who criticised her handling of the poll. |
The new vote comes at a time of growing tension between the government and the country's courts. | The new vote comes at a time of growing tension between the government and the country's courts. |
There have also been concerns over the logistics and safety of carrying out an election in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. | There have also been concerns over the logistics and safety of carrying out an election in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. |
Who is in the race? | Who is in the race? |
The president and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are in an alliance with another party, the United Democratic Front (UDF). | The president and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are in an alliance with another party, the United Democratic Front (UDF). |
"If you give me another five-year term, this country will develop to the level of South Africa or Singapore, London, America or Canada," President Mutharika told a campaign rally in Lilongwe last week. | |
Mr Mutharika, a former law professor who taught in the US before becoming a cabinet minister, was first elected to Malawi's top office in 2014. Two years earlier his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, died while serving as president. | Mr Mutharika, a former law professor who taught in the US before becoming a cabinet minister, was first elected to Malawi's top office in 2014. Two years earlier his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, died while serving as president. |
He faces competition from Mr Chakwera, a former cleric who heads up the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP). | He faces competition from Mr Chakwera, a former cleric who heads up the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP). |
Born in Lilongwe to a subsistence farmer, the philosophy and theology graduate has pledged to raise the national minimum wage among other changes. | Born in Lilongwe to a subsistence farmer, the philosophy and theology graduate has pledged to raise the national minimum wage among other changes. |
Mr Chakwera is leading a nine-party opposition coalition, the Tonse Alliance, and has the backing of former President Joyce Banda as well as the country's vice-president, Saulos Chilima, as his running mate. | Mr Chakwera is leading a nine-party opposition coalition, the Tonse Alliance, and has the backing of former President Joyce Banda as well as the country's vice-president, Saulos Chilima, as his running mate. |
Mr Chilima - who finished third in the 2019 vote - was once an ally of President Mutharika, but has since fallen out with him. | Mr Chilima - who finished third in the 2019 vote - was once an ally of President Mutharika, but has since fallen out with him. |
The vice-president has tried to reassure the public that the result will not see a repeat of the controversies of last time. | The vice-president has tried to reassure the public that the result will not see a repeat of the controversies of last time. |
"Do not be discouraged; come out in large numbers to cast your vote. Your vote will be protected and no room for rigging," he said on a campaign visit last week. | "Do not be discouraged; come out in large numbers to cast your vote. Your vote will be protected and no room for rigging," he said on a campaign visit last week. |