By Pemphero Malimba:
Despite heavy rain and challenging conditions, voters in Tuesday’s by-elections showed resilience, the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) said.
At a post-election briefing announcing the official results, Mec Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja said the elections in four constituencies and nine wards had been conducted smoothly despite low turnout.
“While overall turnout was lower than in the general election of September 16, 2025, the by-elections were conducted efficiently with minimal disruption.
“Voters who turned up were informed, engaged and exercised their rights responsibly, as reflected in the historically low void vote rate of 0.81 percent,” Mtalimanja said.
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She added that polling and counting proceeded smoothly, with results transmitted both electronically and physically to the national tally centre.
Only a few complaints were recorded, most resolved at polling stations and no discrepancies affecting results were identified.
The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust said voter participation in the by-elections was higher than in similar elections over the past 20 years, despite the poor weather.
Nice Public Trust Programmes Officer, Christopher Naphiyo, told The Daily Times that previous by-elections had seen turnout below 20 percent.
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Naphiyo added that the weather limited participation, with some polling stations opening late and some electoral staff unable to reach their duty points on time.
He described the elections as free, fair and transparent. Naphiyo said his organisation and partners had conducted voter education through churches, markets and other platforms.
Official results show Matthews Mtumbuka of the UTM Party won Rumphi Central, Patrick Bandawe of the Malawi Congress Party won Dedza Mtakataka, Thokozire Lunji of the Democratic Progressive Party won Nkhotakota Liwaladzi and Blantyre West went to independent candidate Mavuto Gulo.
The by-elections were prompted by a combination of factors, including the appointment of Rumphi Central Member of Parliament Enoch Chihana as second vice president, the deaths of several candidates and legal disputes.
