Malawi Announces New President
After a huge voter turnout earlier this week, Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika won re-election, according to election officials. “I declare Bingu wa Mutharika president of the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party), winner of 2009 presidential elections,” an official announced Thursday. Mutharika, who received 2.7 million votes (his closest competitor, John Tembo, won 1.2 million), is set to be inaugurated Friday, reports the BBC. Mutharika’s predecessor, former president Bakili Muluzi, who when recently disqualified from seeking a third term threw his support behind Tembo, announced his willingness to move on and support the newly elected leader. “I telephoned him [Mr. Mutharika] this morning; we had a conversation, and I conveyed my congratulations to him from the victory and wished him well and his DPP party,” Muluzi told Malawian press. Tembo, though, believes election fraud took place. And international observers have expressed concern that the Malawian media might have given the president an unfair edge. “We are extremely concerned at the conduct of state-owned media in its coverage of these elections,” John Kufuor, Ghana’s former president and current head of the Commonwealth observer team said.
Deadly Floods Hit Haiti
In Haiti, 11 people have lost their lives this week because of flooding in the Caribbean nation due to heavy rains. More than 600 families have been displaced, and hundreds of homes have been damaged, reports the BBC. And, as the rain continues, officials fear that the death toll could continue to climb, reports the news service. Last year, four back-to-back devastating tropical storms hit the impoverished island nation, killing almost 800 people and destroying a lot of the country’s infrastructure.

Voters Head to the Polls in Malawi 
Millions of voters cast their ballots Tuesday in Malawi’s general election, reports the BBC. The nation is electing a president and a new parliament. While there are seven presidential candidates, most consider to two main contenders being current President Bingu Wa Mutharika and John Tembo leader of the Malawi Congress Party. With a large voter turnout (6 million votes cast at nearly 4,000 polls) many are expecting the results to be close. The results of the vote are expected by Thursday. Mutharika’s predecessor, Bakili Muluzi (who has already served two terms as president) recently threw his support behind Tembo after a court ruled he could not run for a third term, reports the news service. Because of a disagreement with Muluzi, his former supporter, Mutharika quit the United Democratic Front to form his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party in 2005.
 
 

Accused Albino Killers on Trial
Eleven people accused of killing 12 albinos are on trial in Burundi, reports the BBC. All of the defendants have denied murder charges and if they are found guilty, they face life in prison. In recent months, murders of albinos in East African nations have increased, with 50 people losing their lives, BBC reports. Albino body parts taken from Burundi are sold in nearby Tanzania, authorities say. Witchdoctors have claimed that potions that include albino body parts will bring clients success and good luck. While officials in Burundi are starting to crack down on the killings, more can be done says an organization fighting for albino rights.