President Bingu wa Mutharika has just voted in his home district of Thyolo.

Mutharika voted around 9:30 this morning, and has since left the polling station at Goliati with his entourage.

He was officially slated to vote at 8:00am. This year's presidential election pits Mutharika, who is Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate, against John Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party (UDF).

Tembo is being supported by former president Bakili Muluzi's United Democratic Front, having (Muluzi) being barred by the Electoral Commission on grounds he already served a maximum of two terms.

Political analysts bill this year's election as the closest because the UDF will, for the first time, not be fielding a presidential candidate- development commentators say could turn UDF/MCP supporters into a very big bloc.

DPP is, however, optimistic of a positive outcome and is billing on Mutharika's perceived achievements over the past five years of his administration.