Tensions surrounding Malawi’s 2025 General Elections escalated on Friday following the arrest of eight data clerks accused of manipulating election data at the Nkhoma Constituency Tally Centre in Lilongwe.
In a statement dated September 19, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects were involved in data entry operations during the vote. The development comes amid an ongoing investigation linked to an attempted suicide by Clement Chikanhka, the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) returning officer for Lilongwe’s Nkhoma Constituency.
“Their arrest follows investigations MPS was conducting on an attempted suicide case involving Mr. Clement Chikanhka,” the police said.
While authorities have yet to publicly disclose the exact link between Chikanhka’s case and the alleged data manipulation, the incident has fueled speculation about possible irregularities in the electoral process.
Official election results have not yet been released, and the arrests have intensified public anxiety as citizens await clarification on whether the allegations will impact the final outcome. Electoral fraud remains a highly sensitive issue in Malawi, where past disputed elections have sparked legal battles and civil unrest.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Peter Kalaya confirmed that the investigation extends beyond the Lilongwe incident.
“The Service is also following up on a number of similar cases reported in Mangochi, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Machinga, and Rumphi Districts,” Kalaya said, urging the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
So far, the police have not disclosed the specific charges the suspects may face or the methods allegedly used to manipulate election data. Investigators are said to be working “against the clock” to uncover the full scope of the suspected malpractice.
The arrests have reignited concerns over electoral transparency, with civil society groups and political observers calling for urgent reforms to protect the integrity of Malawi’s democratic process.
As the nation awaits the official results, the unfolding scandal threatens to cast a long shadow over the credibility of the 2025 elections, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in the country’s electoral infrastructure.
