Voting has begun in Malawi for the country’s tripartite elections.
About 11 people joined the presidential race against the incumbent Dr Joyce Banda, in what has been billed a highly contested election.
Banda took over the reign of power after the demise of president Bingu wa Mutharika two years ago.
About 7 million people have registered to vote – roughly half the country’s total population.
Authorities say at least one officer will be on duty at every polling station to keep order.
However, there was a commotion at Blantyre District Commission’s office on Tuesday because of the delay by Malawi Electrol Commission to start in good time.
People were supposed to start casting their votes at 4 oclock GMT but up to 6 oclock GMT people had not yet started which caused anger to the voters who started singing ant-government songs.
“They just want to frustrate us so that we should boycott but we can’t because this is our right. Where were they all this time?” said one of the angry voters.
The country’s flagship newespaper The Nation also reported that “In other centers outside Dedza town voting hasn’t started because ballot papers are yet to arrive.”
President Banda is expected to vote at his Zomba Central Constituency while her main challenger Peter Mutharika will vote in Thyolo.
Malawi Electrol Commission has until 8 days to announce the results.
Reporting by Marshall Dyton, Blantyre
The fact that there are some Muslim brothers in this woman’s camp does not make compulsory for Muslims to vote for this woman. She will turn out to be worse than Bingu, mark my words!