Malawi’s high court has issued an injunction barring President Joyce Banda from interfering in the electoral process.
Malawi’s military has backed up police following reports of voting materials set alight and roads being blocked by angry voters.
Two people have been killed after clashes between supporters of Malawi’s ruling party and its opposition.
In a move that could further inflame opposition, President Mutharika’s brother has been endorsed as a candidate in the 2014 presidential election.
The year 2005 will go down in history as another difficult 12 months for the tiny, famine-stricken Southern African nation of Malawi. More than 4,7-million Malawians, out of a population of 12-million, are experiencing food shortages, according to official statistics. Malawi does not have enough food stocks to last until the next harvest in April 2006, aid agencies warn.
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/ 13 December 2005
More than a year ago, Inter Press Service (IPS) profiled several of the women who had won seats in Malawi’s Parliament, something that enabled them to break new ground in the drive to make the legislature less of male-dominated forum.This month, IPS decided to catch up with some of the women again. Had their experiences in Parliament lived up to expectations — or down to apprehensions?
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/ 28 February 2005
Will they or won’t they? This question is on the lips of political observers in Malawi at present, as they wait to see whether substantial numbers of ruling coalition or opposition members will support the country’s newest political grouping: the Democratic Progressive Party. At stake is the future of party founder President Bingu wa Mutharika, who resigned from the United Democratic Front earlier this month.
Every morning, residents of Malawi’s sprawling commercial hub, Blantyre, wake up to deafening noises as hundreds of thousands of people pour into the city to try to make a living. According to a new study, Malawi has emerged as the fastest-urbanising country in the world with an urban population growth of 6,3%.
As Malawi’s courts grapple with the electoral challenge lodged by the opposition Mgwirizano coalition to last week’s poll, the country’s new President, Bingu wa Mutharika, is trying to win hearts and minds with talk of poverty alleviation and corruption busting. "Malawi is not a poor country," he said at his swearing-in ceremony.
Malawi is scheduled to go to the polls on Thursday for general elections — this amid polling delays, allegations of bias on the part of electoral officials and deepening poverty. The ballot had initially been set for Tuesday May 18, but was postponed by the High Court after complaints by a coalition of opposition parties.