Police in Malawi have arrested eight people for alleged electoral fraud as the country waits for the final results of Tuesday's general election.
Inspector General Merlyne Yolamu stated the suspects, who were serving as data entry clerks, were involved in attempts to manipulate electoral data.
Malawi's previous election in 2019 was marked by controversy when a court annulled the then president Peter Mutharika's victory due to widespread irregularities.
The current electoral commission is on high alert for any potential issues, with early tallies suggesting Mutharika is currently leading the presidential race, followed by incumbent Lazarus Chakwera.
Results from Malawi's 36 districts are anticipated to be announced on Saturday, with candidates required to secure more than 50% of the votes to avoid a secondary run-off.
Chakwera's Malawi Congress Party has filed a complaint with the electoral commission regarding alleged irregularities discovered during the counting process, although details have not been specified.
In light of the previous election's issues, the commission plans to reveal the final outcome only after thorough verification of all votes to prevent challenges to the results.
Officials have until the end of Wednesday to announce the final tallies, adhering to established laws.
In the 2019 elections, a court discovered extensive tampering, including using Tipp-Ex correction fluid on result sheets, which led to the annulment of Mutharika's victory.
Malawians participated in both presidential and parliamentary elections, amidst a campaign heavily influenced by the economic crisis characterized by severe shortages of fuel and foreign currency.
With the nation grappling with an official inflation rate close to 30%, the daily struggles of its citizens are evident, as many live on as little as $2 a day, with essential goods like frozen chicken costing about $20 (£15).
