Malawi’s tripartite elections were held on Tuesday to elect a president, members of parliament and local government councilors.

Local media reported that the Polling closed at 6pm (4pm GMT) with no serious reports of violence although reports of long queues at some polling stations. Some 6.8 million Malawians had registered to vote. 

The Malawi Electoral Commission said results would be announced within eight days in line with electoral law, but could be known as early as Wednesday evening.

Eight candidates are vying for Malawi';s presidency — and before the polls, accusing each other of scheming to manipulate the elections.

President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who is the brother of deceased former president Bingu wa Mutharika,  is seeking reelection for a second and final five-year term.

In 2014, Peter Mutharika defeated Joyce Banda, who had assumed the presidency on BIngu wa Mutharika';s death. Banda had planned to run for the presidency again this year, but withdrew her candidacy in March.

However, Mutharika on Tuesday faced another rival from 2014: former Christian pastor Lazarus Chakwera, who heads the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and is the opposition leader in the National Assembly.

Mutharika';s second biggest threat is 48-year-old Saulosi Chilema, his estranged deputy, an economist who held key leadership positions in various multi-national companies before going into politics. He is now running for the United Transformation Movement and is expected to pick up a large share of the youth vote.

Augustine Magolowondo, an independent researcher with the Johannesburg-based Democracy Works Foundation, says the stakes are high for all contestants.

“Three parties are having equal power, which makes the elections very unpredictable. It is a must win election,” Magolowondo told DW.

While the ruling DPP has the advantage of having access to resources, public sector networks and specific projects, “the opposition is strong: Chakwera has a coalition of parties behind him and Chilima is very appealing to the young generation."

Malawi';s presidential election is won by a simple majority, which means that the victor is the person with the most votes. In 2014, Mutharika won with just 36 percent of the vote.

Major issues in several political party manifestos are job creation, corruption and revamping the agriculture sector.

“Against the background of underdevelopment, growing poverty and corruption in Malawi, the decisions taken in this election will shape to what extent the challenges that we are facing will be handled,” Magolowondo said.