Malawi holds a presidential election this week as one of Africa’s poorest countries grapples with a deepening economic crisis, critical shortages of food and fuel, and lingering memories of a 2019 vote that was annulled by the courts for widespread irregularities.
Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, of the Malawi Congress Party is seeking a second term, while former President Peter Mutharika, 85, of the Democratic Progressive Party seeks a return to power. Seventeen presidential candidates are on the ballot, alongside elections for Parliament and more than 500 local council seats.
Malawi’s economy has deteriorated sharply since Chakwera took office. Inflation has climbed from about 8% in 2020 to roughly 27% in recent months, eroding household purchasing power and worsening poverty. Essential supplies such as fuel, sugar and fertilizer have been intermittently unavailable, and harvests were severely damaged by Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and an El Niño–related drought in 2024, heightening food insecurity in a country where more than 80% of people live in rural areas and depend on smallholder farming.
Political tensions remain high because of the 2019 election, which was annulled after the country’s highest court found widespread irregularities. The ensuing change to the electoral law now requires a candidate to win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Analysts say that, given the crowded field and public frustration with economic conditions, a first-round majority is unlikely and a runoff between Chakwera and Mutharika is probable.
"Malawians are weary," political analyst Boniface Dulani said, reflecting public impatience with slow progress on livelihood issues. Dulani added that Mutharika’s resurgence does not necessarily represent renewed popularity for the former leader but rather growing disillusionment with Chakwera’s handling of the economy.
Campaigning has focused heavily on bread-and-butter issues. Voters cited the cost of food and fertilizer, and the availability of fuel, as the most pressing concerns. "Back then, we could afford fertilizer. Everyone was able to grow corn," said Eliza Justin, a 34-year-old informal market trader who said she favors Mutharika. "Now, prices are killing us. We need Mutharika back to save us."
Chakwera’s supporters point to other considerations. Some say a vote for Mutharika would be a step backward after a decade in which the Mutharika family held sway. "We’re looking forward, not backward," said Aubrey Kachiwala, who runs a taxi business and supports Chakwera.
The campaign has also been shaped by recent tragedy and political realignment. Vice President Saulos Chilima, once seen as a potential successor and a source of support for younger voters, died in a military plane crash last year. Chilima’s death followed reports of a rift with Chakwera, and his absence has altered the political landscape.
Mutharika has campaigned on a pledge to restore what he calls "trusted leadership," but his candidacy has raised questions about age and continuity: if elected, he would be 90 by the end of a five-year term. Mutharika has made relatively few public appearances during the campaign and has chosen a running mate who previously headed the electoral body that oversaw the canceled 2019 vote, a decision that has rekindled concerns about potential collusion between his party and election officials in the past.
The Malawi Electoral Commission will oversee voting under intense scrutiny. After the chaos surrounding the 2019 ballot and the subsequent court-ordered rerun in 2020, both domestic and international observers are watching to ensure transparency and credibility. Reforms to electoral law implemented after 2019 include the 50%+1 threshold and other procedural changes intended to bolster confidence in results.
Observers and analysts say the election’s outcome will hinge not only on the presidential race but also on parliamentary and local contests that could influence governance and policy implementation. A runoff, should one be required, would prolong uncertainty and test public trust in institutions already strained by economic hardship.
The vote concludes a campaign marked by competing appeals to nostalgia and change, economic grievances, and heightened attention to electoral integrity. Results are expected to be closely scrutinized by both supporters and critics of the main contenders, and the country faces the immediate task of addressing the economic and humanitarian pressures weighing on millions of Malawians.