Hot SourcePolice in Malawi have arrested eight data entry clerks employed by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) over allegations of manipulating vote tallies, intensifying an already fraught national election.
The arrests were carried out late on Friday at the Nkhoma Constituency Tally Centre in Lilongwe. Authorities say the clerks are accused of altering digital results during the ongoing count, though they have not disclosed the specific changes or the scale of any irregularities.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya confirmed the detentions, describing the investigation as “serious and ongoing”. He said the suspects are being questioned and will face charges under the country’s electoral laws once prosecutors determine the full extent of the alleged tampering.
The probe was triggered after a constituency returning officer, Clement Chikanhka, reportedly attempted suicide amid pressure to influence vote counts. Local media report that Chikanhka had been approached with offers of money, but police have not verified that claim.
The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has alleged irregularities in 13 of the country’s 28 districts and is demanding a physical audit of results in those areas. Opposition parties have raised their own complaints, fuelling fears of a contested outcome.
MEC officials insist they are working to ensure a credible tally but have delayed releasing full results, citing network glitches and “technical difficulties”. Several broadcasters who had been carrying live unofficial tallies abruptly halted their dashboards on Saturday, prompting speculation and frustration among voters eager for clarity.
International observer groups have yet to issue a definitive assessment of the vote’s integrity.
Malawi has a volatile electoral history. The country’s 2019 presidential poll was annulled by the Constitutional Court after judges found widespread irregularities, including the infamous use of correction fluid on tally sheets. That precedent has heightened sensitivity around this year’s contest.
With tensions rising, civil society groups are urging calm and transparency. The Centre for Multiparty Democracy has appealed for patience, warning that “unverified claims risk inflaming an already delicate situation.”
As the nation awaits official results, the arrests of the eight clerks have deepened uncertainty over when Malawians will know who has won and whether the outcome will be trusted.
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