Malawi to Hold Presidential, Parliamentary Elections on May 19

Malawi will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on May 19 and plans to register 7 million voters, the Malawi Electoral Commission said.

The southern African nation will budget $50 million for the vote, Fegus Lipenga, a spokesman for the commission, said in a telephone interview today from Lilongwe, the capital. Voter registration will take place between Aug. 18 and Nov. 29.

The ballot will be the third in Malawi since the end of one-party rule under Hastings Kamuzu Banda 15 years ago.