Chancellor College based political scientists have expressed diverse views on claims of vote-rigging by different presidential candidates in the May 21 polls.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika and the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leaders claimed during their respective rallies over the weekend that other political parties intend to rig the May 21 polls.

Speaking to YFM in an interview on Tuesday, political science lecturer Ernest Thindwa expressed worry over the uncertainty and tension being created by the claims

Thindwa said such claims might have adverse effects on the elections if proper evidence is not brought forward.

“Some people may even withdraw from the vote because they may think that their vote may not count anyway as the elections would be rigged.”

He said the claims may also lead to a scenario where candidates may contest election outcomes.

But fellow political scientist Dr Mustapha Hussein said the vote-rigging claims cannot impact on people’s mindset over the coming general election.

“I don’t think these accusations will affect people’s morale, this is campaign time and people know that politicians say all sorts of things.”

He argued that this can be unless the aspiring candidates have any tangible evidence over one another to confirm the remarks,

“Unless there is evidence that someone is attempting to rig the elections such concerns or such words may not be taken seriously.”