What is at stake in the upcoming vote?

The people of Malawi are set to vote for their next leader, following a turbulent five years involving economic turmoil, natural disasters and the shock death of the nation’s vice-president.

Current President Lazarus Chakwera is vying for a second term, his main rival being Peter Mutharika, an octogenarian who has also held office in the southern African nation once before.

Transparency and fairness are key talking points ahead of the vote, given that the result of Malawi’s 2019 presidential election was overturned in the courts due to widespread irregularities.

Polling day is Tuesday 16 September 2025.

The 7.2 million registered voters will be taking part in three elections:

• Presidential – there are 17 candidates to choose from
• Parliamentary – 229 constituency MPs will be elected
• Local – 509 councillor positions are up for grabs.

Among the 17 hopefuls there are two clear front-runners.

Chakwera and Mutharika will square off against each other at the polls for the fourth time – though the third time ended up not counting.

Mutharika first defeated Chakwera in 2014, but when he was declared winner over Chakwera in the next election in 2019 the result was annulled. Chakwera won the re-run the following year.

Lazarus Chakwera – Malawi Congress Party (MCP)

Chakwera, a former theology lecturer and preacher, had no political experience when he emerged as leader of the MCP in 2013.

When he ran for president in 2014 he was unsuccessful, but in 2020 he triumphed, beating the incumbent, Mutharika, in that unprecedented re-run.

Chakwera’s time in office has been marred by economic turmoil and allegations of corruption. The 70-year-old did, however, reintroduce train services in Malawi for the first time in over three decades. He has also overseen major road construction across the country.

Peter Mutharika – Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

Mutharika, an 85-year-old former lawyer and law lecturer, led Malawi from 2014 to 2020.

He is the brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in 2012.

Like Chakwera, Mutharika is also burdened by corruption allegations and links to economic crises. However, his supporters would argue that the current high inflation rate (around 27%) is proof that Mutharika managed the economy better than his successor.

Mutharika’s age may count against him this election – speculation about his health is rife, especially as he has rarely been seen out in public during the campaign period.

Other contenders garnering attention are former president Joyce Banda (People’s Party), current Vice-President Michael Usi (Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu) and former reserve bank governor Dalitso Kabambe (UTM).

The economy

Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world, but the past few years have been especially punishing.

The country was devastated by Cyclone Freddy that killed hundreds of people in 2023, then a drought swept across southern Africa the following year. Food prices skyrocketed due to a short supply of crops, pushing many Malawians into extreme poverty.

Economists also put Malawi’s current inflation problems partly down to the shortage of foreign currencies – known as “forex” – in the banks.

In addition, Malawi has been forced to devalue its currency and was recently crippled by fuel shortages and nationwide power outages.

Corruption

When Chakwera came to power, he vowed to “to clear the rubble of corruption” that has long plagued Malawian politics. His administration says it has excelled in this area, but critics – including the influential Catholic Church – say this is not the case.

Scepticism was sparked last year when the director of public prosecutions dropped corruption charges against high-profile figures.

Additionally, Malawi’s anti-graft agency, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), has been without a director since former boss Martha Chizuma left more than a year ago.

To some, the failure to appoint a new head actively hinders the fight against corruption.

But previous administrations have also been dogged by graft allegations. For instance, the ACB accused Mutharika of receiving a kickback from a contract to supply food to the police – he denied any wrongdoing.

Banda’s reputation was dented by a scandal dubbed “cashgate” which happened under her watch. She was cleared by the ACB of any wrongdoing.

The former vice-president’s death

In June last year, Vice-President Saulos Chilima died in a plane crash. Popular with the youth, Chilima led the UTM party and could have been a key contender in the upcoming elections, especially as he had fallen out with the president.

Although two…