LILONGWE, Sept. 16 — Malawians are going to polling stations to elect the president, parliamentary representatives, and local government leaders. The much-awaited voting exercise started at 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, with long queues at polling centers across the country. Seventeen presidential candidates are contesting, including incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda. Other presidential hopefuls include United Transformation Movement’s candidate Dalitso Kabambe, former President Bakili Muluzi’s son Atupele Muluzi, and incumbent Vice President Michael Usi. Over 7.2 million registered voters are expected to vote in the general elections, with Chakwera, the ruling Malawi Congress Party’s president, and Mutharika, the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party’s president, as key contenders in the race. Voting is expected to end at 4 p.m., and counting of votes will commence thereafter, with results expected to be released within eight days. On Monday evening, hours before the general elections, Chakwera dissolved his cabinet, delegating all the ministries’ responsibilities to the president’s office.
Xinhua
