Former Malawian Minister Godfrey Kamanya Commits Suicide after Losing Election

A former Malawian minister killed himself after reportedly discovering he had lost his parliamentary seat in the presidential elections.

Deputy Local Government Minister Godfrey Kamanya, who was a member of President Joyce Banda's party, was found shot dead at his home in the capital of Lilongwe on 22 May.

According to local reports, his body was discovered by friends inside a locked bedroom just days after the preliminary poll results were announced.

"We had to break the door to his kitchen where he had locked himself up," Jemoth Chilapondwa, Kamanya's friend, told the Zodiak Broadcasting network.

"We found him lying dead in a pool of blood. Police will do their investigations and are the ones who can disclose more on this," Chilapondwa added.

In a suicide note found at the scene, Kamanya allegedly said he took his life because of political misunderstanding and fears that he would be killed by members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The note also stipulated that his estate should be divided amongst family members following his death.

His spokesperson has since refuted claims that that his suicide was linked to the elections.

Meanwhile, President Banda has said that Malawi's elections have been "marred" by "vote-rigging" and called for an immediate manual recount of the results.

Her closest rival is Peter Mutharika, the brother of former President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in April 2012.

"I appeal to all Malawians to continue with their commitment to peaceful co-existence and to remain calm until the Malawi Electoral Commission determines the outcome of the poll results," the president said.