More than six million Malawians go the polls

More than 6 million Malawians are voting for a president, parliament and local councils in the country’s sixth election since the end of dictatorship in 1994.

Of a field of seven presidential candidates, incumbent Peter Mutharika, 78, faces stiff competition from vice-president Saulos Chi lima ,46, and from Lazarus Chakw era ,64, leader of the main opposition, the Malawi Congress Party.

Malawi’ s winning candidate must get the most votes cast but is not required to receive more than 50 percent. Previous president Joyce Banda dropped out of the race and supports Mr Chakwera.

Of the registered voters, 54 per cent are young people between the ages of 18 and 34. Women make up 56 p er cent while all the presidential candidates are male.