Malawi’s former President Peter Mutharika has taken a comfortable lead in the country’s presidential race, with two-thirds of districts having reported provisional results.

The 85-year-old has received around 66 percent of the valid votes counted so far, with his closest rival, the incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, 70, trailing on around 24percent.

Results declared so far indicate that Mutharika has won in areas known to be Chakwera strongholds, including the capital, Lilongwe, and Nkhotakota.

But Chakwera’s camp has not given up, saying that once results are declared from other areas, his vote will increase and he could force a run-off.

A candidate needs more than 50percent of the vote to be declared the winner, with Malawians eagerly awaiting the final result from last Tuesday’s election.