Malawians await ruling on contested presidential poll

Over the past four months, voters in Malawi have eagerly followed live broadcasts of witnesses presenting evidence to judges of alleged rigging in an election narrowly won by President Peter Mutharika.

For the first time in the southeast African nation's history, the court proceedings were On-Air on private radio stations.

The testimonies, which ended on Friday, challenge the credibility of the May elections that saw Mutharika narrowly secure a second term with 38.5 per cent of the vote.

Runner-up Lazarus Chakwera alleges he was robbed of victory in the ballot, which he lost by just 159,000 votes.

His Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the opposition United Transformation Movement (UTM) have petitioned courts to annul the poll.

Presidential election results have never been challenged in court since Malawi's independence from Britain in 1964.

The opposition bussed in thousands of supporters to Lilongwe for the occasion. They barred roads and threw stones at the police.

Protesters have been demanding the resignation of the electoral body chief and many of the demonstrations turned violent.

As interest in the testimonies spiked, the judges allowed some private broadcasters to broadcast the proceedings on the radio.

"Judges and lawyers are aware of the interest that the live broadcasts have raised among Malawians here and abroad," Information Minister Mark Botoman said.

In Nthandire, a crowded slum in Lilongwe, it was a common sight to see groups of men glued to their radio sets, following the proceedings late into the night.