LILONGWE: Malawi counted votes after a general election dominated by economic hardships in the largely poor country, that could knock outgoing president Lazarus Chakwera's chances of winning a second term. Observers said preliminary results from Tuesday's vote indicated a strong showing for his predecessor and main rival Peter Mutharika, though Chakwera's party voiced confidence in a victory.
The cost of living has soared after months of inflation topping 27 per cent in a largely rural country where the World Bank says more than 70 per cent live in poverty. A chronic shortage of foreign currency has restricted imports of fuel, food and fertiliser, hitting an economy dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Early initial results suggest people across the southern African country were rallying behind Mutharika, persuaded that Malawi was better off during his 2014-2020 term, political analyst George Chaima said. — AFP
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