Malawian voters defied the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday to return to the polls for the second time in just over a year after President Peter Mutharika's re-election was annulled in a dramatic court ruling.

Tuesday's election was practically a two-horse race between the president and Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the election by 159 000 votes.

First, this election is born out of a court ruling and second, they will follow the 50-percent-plus-one system," the group said.

"This is our date with destiny and this is (the) time for the beginning of a new Malawi," he said, expressing "confidence" the electoral commission will do what is right.

In a statement, the UN called on Malawi's "political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while observing all preventive measures against the spread of Covid-19".