In brief
Malawi is currently in the process of counting votes following its presidential election, where citizens turned out eagerly to vote amidst significant economic distress. Current President Lazarus Chakwera and former leader Peter Mutharika are the key candidates vying for leadership as the country grapples with inflation, food shortages, and fuel crises. Voter turnout was approximately half of those registered, indicating a strong desire for change within the electorate. Challenges in the voting process were noted, but overall, the election proceeded with relatively few issues.
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 put down to a shortage of foreign currency in the banks.
Rachel Chaguza, a 26-year-old university graduate, expressed her concern after voting, saying, We must scrutinise what is going wrong and change things for the better.
The country is additionally facing nationwide power outages and fuel shortages, which have frustrated residents during the election period.
President Chakwera, aiming to surmount the current challenges, stood in line to vote with residents in Malembo, about 56km (35 miles) northeast of Lilongwe.
The election is essentially a two-horse race between Chakwera and Mutharika, with 15 other candidates competing, including another former president and the only female head of state in Malawi, Joyce Banda.
Approximately 3.7 million voters had cast their ballots by the time polls closed, about half of the registered voting population. Voting proceeded relatively smoothly, although there were reports of delays at some polling stations.
Provisions were made for voters who struggled with writing, allowing them to mark their ballots using an inked fingerprint, while others used pens. The counting of votes began as soon as the polls closed at 14:00 GMT.
The Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to announce the results by September 24 for the presidential and end of September for parliamentary results.
