By Burnett Munthali
President Lazarus Chakwera is leading in 15 out of 27 polling stations in Lilongwe Chilobwe Constituency.
From these 15 polling centres, he has so far secured a total of 28,111 votes.
Akwame Bandawe, running as an independent candidate, is trailing in second place with 289 votes.
Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has recorded 189 votes in the same centres.
Dalitso Kabambe has managed to collect 62 votes, while Joyce Banda of the People’s Party has received 49 votes.
The Chief Returning Officer at Malembo Tally Centre, Fackson Chipalasa, confirmed the figures when briefing the media.
He explained that the tallying of results has been moving slowly due to erratic network challenges.
Chipalasa emphasized that despite the delays, officials are working carefully to ensure that the process remains transparent and accurate.
Observers at the tally centre noted that the slow pace has caused anxiety among party monitors and supporters eagerly waiting for updates.
The situation highlights the importance of efficient communication systems in ensuring that election results are processed smoothly.
As tallying continues, more results are expected to be released in the coming hours to give a clearer picture of the constituency’s outcome.
Political analysts say the early lead for Chakwera in Lilongwe Chilobwe reflects his strong support base in the capital region.
They caution, however, that with 12 polling centres still to be counted, the final outcome remains open until all votes are tallied.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has yet to issue an official update on the overall progress in Lilongwe District.
For now, all eyes remain on Malembo Tally Centre as the counting and verification process continues under tight observation.
