Malawians are waiting to find out who their next president will be as polls have closed in most parts of the country and counting has started.
Thousands of people queued outside polling stations on Tuesday to vote for a president, MPs and local councillors, keenly hoping to effect change in a country swamped by economic troubles. Some are still voting in areas where polling started late.
In his campaign for a second term, current President Lazarus Chakwera pledged to fix Malawi's economy - as did his main rival, octogenarian former leader Peter Mutharika.
If no candidate wins more than half the votes, the top two contenders will head to a run-off.
There is anger in us. I want to change this government. I want young people to be in good jobs, Ettah Nyasulu, a 28-year-old waitress told the AFP press agency before heading out to vote.
Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world, but recent times have been especially punishing. Food costs have been rising at more than 30% in the last year and wages have not kept pace. The high inflation rate has partly been attributed to a shortage of foreign currency.
Malawi has also faced nationwide power outages and fuel shortages, leading to frustration among voters. President Chakwera, while waiting to vote, stood in line with residents of his home village, Malembo.
The election is largely a contest between Chakwera and Mutharika, although there are a total of 17 candidates in the race. As polls closed, reports indicated a turnout of about half of the registered voters.
On the whole, the voting process progressed without major issues, despite some delays due to biometric fingerprint reader malfunctions at certain polling stations. The electoral commission announced that vote counting began immediately after polls closed.
The electoral body has until September 24 to announce the presidential election results and until September 30 for parliamentary results.
