LILONGWE, Malawi (BN24) — Malawians will cast their votes Tuesday in a high-stakes presidential election that pits incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera against his predecessor, Peter Mutharika, who is attempting a dramatic political comeback at the age of 84.
Mutharika, who served as president from 2014 until his defeat in 2020, has framed his return as a mission to “rescue the nation” from economic decline and what he calls mismanagement under Chakwera’s leadership. Despite previously signaling he was done with politics, he has re-emerged as the central challenger in what is shaping up to be one of Malawi’s most fiercely contested races.
Supporters of the former president, especially in rural areas and informal trading communities, say they are nostalgic for his policies, particularly those that subsidized farming inputs and kept staple food prices lower.
“At the time Peter Mutharika was in power, he reduced the price of fertilizers so everyone had the opportunity to farm,” said Eliza Justin, a market trader in Lilongwe. “People were able to sell and buy food. This empowered people to have what they wanted. But this is not the case now, because people are scrambling to buy maize.”
With Malawi facing rising inflation, food insecurity, and high youth unemployment, Mutharika’s campaign has tapped into deep frustration with Chakwera’s economic stewardship.
Mutharika lost the presidency to Chakwera in 2020 in a court-ordered re-run election. The original 2019 results were annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Court, which found evidence of widespread irregularities, including ballot tampering and the use of Tipp-Ex correction fluid on tally sheets. The ruling was hailed as a democratic milestone — the first time a court in Malawi overturned a presidential election result.
Chakwera, who won that re-run by a landslide, has defended his record and urged voters to stick with his administration, pointing to governance reforms and anti-corruption drives.
Tuesday’s election is widely seen as a referendum on whether Malawians are willing to give Mutharika a second chance or continue with Chakwera’s leadership despite mounting economic woes.
Observers say turnout could be critical, with younger voters playing a decisive role. Election monitors from regional and international organizations are expected to be present across the country to ensure credibility.
The outcome will determine not only Malawi’s political future but also its stability in the face of economic hardship and growing public frustration.
