The Election Situation Room (ESR) has called for restraint among youth supporters of the two leading political parties following premature celebrations in the aftermath of last week's general elections.

The call comes in response to reports of jubilant gatherings by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) youth in Lilongwe and their Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) counterparts in Blantyre — despite official results yet to be declared by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

Speaking on behalf of the ESR, Gray Kalindekafe, Executive Director of NICE Public Trust, warned that early claims of victory risk inflaming political tensions. "Premature declarations of victory are a recipe for conflict," Kalindekafe said, urging all stakeholders to respect the democratic process and await official results.

NICE Public Trust is spearheading the ESR initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and over 20 other partners.

Kalindekafe emphasized that elections are a hallmark of democracy and should be seen as peaceful competitions. “There are always winners and losers in any democratic process, and it is vital that all parties honor the outcome as declared by MEC through due process,” he stated.

Dr. Henry Chingaipe, lead consultant and ESR spokesperson, highlighted the platform’s role in promoting transparency and peaceful elections. Speaking during the release of ESR’s Preliminary Observations, Chingaipe said the ESR—known locally as Maso Athu—has monitored and responded to thousands of election-related incidents in real time.

“This real-time tracking has been instrumental in de-escalating tensions, preventing violence, and fostering public trust in the electoral process,” Dr. Chingaipe noted. He added that the ESR serves as a central hub for domestic election observation and rapid incident response.

Meanwhile, the civil society organization Youth and Society (YAS) says it will soon issue a formal statement addressing the conduct of young people affiliated with political parties during the post-election period.

The ESR continues to monitor the situation closely as Malawians await the official results of the 2025 general elections.