MALAWI PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:

Voters turn out for historic re-run

LILONGWE - Malawians voted yesterday in a re-run election a year on from President Peter Mutharika's disputed victory that was annulled nearly five months ago.

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.

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.

The country has been bitterly divided in the run-up to yesterday's re-run. Widespread anti-government protests and violence have threatened to plunge Malawi into an even deeper crisis.

Speaking after he had voted in southern Malawi, President 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 Lilongwe, 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. – BBC.