Mutharika takes early lead in Malawi presidential elections

Leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Peter Mutharika ook an early lead in the Malawi presidential elections with about 25% of the votes counted by 7:30am local time on Wednesday.

According to Malawi24, the opposition leader was leading by 31%, gathering votes in about 1 100 of the 4 445 voting stations across the country. Coming in second was Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera with 25% of the votes. Malawi's current President and candidate for the People's Party (PP) Joyce Banda took third place with 23% of the votes.

Mutharika is leading in about 20 of the 28 districts, including Banda's political stronghold Zomba district in the Southern Region. Apart for leading in all 12 Southern Region districts, Mutharika topped the race in six Central Region districts and two districts in the Northern Region.

Malawians went to the polls on Tuesday with the country's presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections all held on the same day for the first time. The final results are expected to be announced within eight days of voting, with the presidential election results set to be released by Friday.