Incumbent President Bingu wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the Presidential election together with his running mate Joyce Banda, who now will be Malawi’s first female Vice President. Dr. Mutharika gained 66% of the total vote. The main opposition candidate John Tembo, who ran on a joint ticket for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF), gained 31% of the total vote. Candidates from smaller parties and independents shared 3 % of the total vote. Turnout among registered voters was about 77% for the presidential elections.
Final results for the parliamentary elections are not yet confirmed, but it is evident that it will be a landslide victory for the DPP, as well as a substantial increase in female parliamentarians. So far, 42 female candidates have been confirmed victorious in their constituencies, which translate into about 22%, up from 14% after elections in 2004.
Several experienced political heavy-weights have lost their parliamentary seats. Most notably is Brown Mpinganjira, running mate for opposition Presidential candidate John Tembo, parliamentary speaker Louis Chimango, and political veteran Gwanda Chakuamba. Further, several Presidential candidates as well as former ministers have also lost their seats.
In the past 3 elections the main parties have been able to count on voters from regional strongholds; the UDF in the southern region, the MCP in the central region, and AFORD in the northern region. In the current elections DPP have won majority in all regions - effectively breaking up the regional division and the regional voting pattern - bringing a welcoming change to the regional divisions of Malawi politics.
There are no current reports from independent observers regarding election fraud or rigging, and the elections are generally regarded as free, fair, and properly conducted. However, several observers, including the British High Commission, have expressed concerns and disappointment to the extent in which public funds have been used to finance the campaign for the incumbent presidential candidate and the ruling party’s parliamentary candidates. Amid claims from opposition candidate John Tembo and his running mate Brown Mpinganjira about fraud and rigging, there is only one reported incidence of post-election violence or turmoil. Further it seems that Tembo’s accusations regarding possible rigging is not being supported by MCP party members in large. Just the opposite, most MCP members seems to demand change in party leadership.