Malawi: Polls indicate a close election – Banda tipped to win

Malawi President Joyce Banda at a campaign stop. PHOTO/Amos Gumulira/AFP

Incumbent Malawi President Joyce Banda, on Tuesday night, stayed away from the presidential debate which was attended by all presidential aspirants.

This is a second time that Banda has withdrawn from a presidential debate after accusing organizers of the event of providing opposition candidates an unfair advantage.

Malawi goes to the polls on May 20 to elect a president and members of the legislature. Banda is pitted against Peter Mutharika (brother to the late former president Bingu wa Mutharika) – from the Democratic Progressive Party; Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front and Lazarous Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party.

Latest opinion polls indicate that election will be close. Banda is tipped to win the election, with 42 percent indicating that they would vote for her, while Lazarous Chakwera comes in at a close second with 39 percent indicating that they would vote for him.