Chakwera closes in on Mutharika – Race to Malawi State House

Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Peter Mutharika are almost equal from the 70 percent of the unofficial results in presidential election.

Results from Blantyre, Mangochi, Nkhotakota, and Lilongwe City to complete the 30 percent will determine who wins.

The other two contenders–incumbent President Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP) and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) – were on third and fourth positions respectively.

The results which were released for the past two days by the private Zodiak radio station – gave DPP leader, the brother of late President Bingu wa Mutharika, a narrow lead.

But by Friday morning, other dispatched unofficial results at the tally centre indicated Chakwera was in frame to take the lead.

The lead has come from Chakwera’s strong showing in the south where he has been second to Peter in most votes counted.

Mutharika has scored strongly in the south.

Incumbent President Joyce Banda of PP was scoring highly in the Northern Region with United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Atupele Muluzi performing fairly well in the Eastern Region districts of Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) are set to announce preliminary results on Friday.