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Wednesday, June 16, 1999 Published at 20:15 GMT 21:15 UK

World: Africa

Malawi opposition threatens to reject poll

Voting has been peaceful, despite fears of disruption

Malawi's main opposition alliance has warned that it will not accept an unfavourable result from this week's general election.

"We believe we would win fair elections, but these have not been free and fair in my view, and we will not accept defeat under the circumstances," said Dan Msowoya, spokesman for the Alliance for Democracy (Aford).

He said he was speaking on behalf of the electoral alliance comprising Aford and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which is seeking to unseat President Bakili Muluzi's United Democratic Front.

"We will seek court intervention if the election goes against us," Mr Msowoya said.

Large turn-out

As counting continued, indications were that over 90% of registered voters had gone to the polls in Tuesday's election - Malawi's second since the transition to democracy five years ago.

There is as yet no indication of the final results, but state radio reported that the opposition alliance had made gains.

The election was marred by a row over the registration process, which resulted in some 100,000 eligible voters not being allowed to take part.

Those without registration were told to stay away from polling stations or risk arrest.

Muluzi confident

[ image: President Muluzi:
President Muluzi: "This is a democracy"
By contrast with the opposition, President Muluzi said he would accept defeat if the ballot went against him.

"I am confident I am going to win, but I will accept defeat because I defend democracy," he said as he voted.

President Muluzi won the 1994 elections which ended 30 years of one-party rule by the MCP, under the self-proclaimed Life President Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

Both Mr Muluzi and the MCP-Aford presidential candidate, Gwanda Chakuamba, once served as ministers under Dr Banda.

The UDF and the MCP-Aford alliance are each believed to have roughly 50% of the vote. Smaller parties have little chance of making an impact on the election.

In the last parliament - made up of 177 seats - the UDF held 76, the MCP 68 and Aford 33.

Regional strengths

[ image: ]

Voting patterns in Malawi are largely based on regional affiliations.

The north of the country is loyal to Aford, the centre to the MCP and the densely populated south to the UDF.

The northern region has consistently asserted that it has been deprived of investment and development by the government of Mr Muluzi - a charge the government denies.