Malawians are voting today in a major election that will decide the country’s next president, members of parliament, and local leaders. The election comes at a difficult time, as the country faces a serious economic crisis and growing public disappointment with political leaders.
President Lazarus Chakwera, who has been in power since 2020, is running for a second term. He is facing a strong challenge from his predecessor, 85-year-old Peter Mutharika.
Although 15 other candidates, including former president Joyce Banda, are also contesting, experts say the real contest is between Chakwera and Mutharika. If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, there will be a second round of voting.
Since Chakwera took office, Malawi’s economy has struggled. A major cyclone and a regional drought have damaged crops, making food scarce and expensive.
Inflation has remained above 20% for over three years, making life even harder for the country’s 22 million citizens. Fuel shortages have become common, and many families are unable to afford basic goods.
There is growing frustration among the people, with many feeling that both the main political parties have failed them.
President Chakwera came into office promising to fight corruption after accusing Mutharika’s government of being corrupt. However, his own government has been criticized for being slow and selective in handling corruption cases.
“We’re dealing with an election where the people are so tired and uninspired. A big question is whether they’ll even bother to vote,” said Louw Nel, a senior political analyst from Oxford Economics Africa.
Neither of the two main parties – Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) or Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – is expected to win a clear majority in parliament. Analysts believe they may have to form coalitions with smaller parties to govern.
This is not the first time Chakwera and Mutharika are going head-to-head. The two have already faced off three times. In 2019, Mutharika was declared the winner, but the courts canceled the results due to election irregularities. A fresh election was held in 2020, which Chakwera won.
Polls opened at 6:00 AM local time and will close 10 hours later. The electoral commission is expected to release the results within a week. This election is being closely watched both inside and outside Malawi due to its importance for the region’s political and economic stability.
