A few polling stations were burnt in the commercial capital Blantyre by crowds incensed at the late delivery of voting materials.

Some polling stations opened as much as 10 hours late.

There was anger and speculation about the fairness of the vote that spilled over into violence

The stakes are high in the first election since hard-line president Bingu wa Mutharika died in office two years ago.

His rival heirs have renewed the battle for power.

Joyce Banda, who succeeded him, began her term as a darling of the West, feted as one of Africa’s rare women leaders.

However her government’s been ensnared in a R300 million corruption scandal that has seen foreign donors freeze vital aid.

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