President Mutharika takes lead in Malawi election with 75% of votes counted

BLANTYRE (Reuters) - Malawi's President Peter Mutharika has so far taken 40.44% of votes cast in the May 21 presidential election, with 75% of the vote counted, the Electoral Commission said on Thursday.

Lazarus Chakwera, who heads the opposition Malawi Congress Party, has 35.34%, while Deputy President Saulos Chilima has secured 18.35%, the commission told a news conference.

Malawi also held parliamentary elections on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Mabvuto Banda and Frank Phiri; Writing by Emma Rumney; Editing by Gareth Jones)