Malawi votes as economic woes, leadership anger loom large

Malawians head to the polls on Tuesday in a fiercely contested presidential election that pits incumbent Lazarus Chakwera against his predecessor Peter Mutharika, as a battered economy, soaring inflation and chronic fuel shortages weigh heavily on voters.

Seventeen candidates are on the ballot, including former president Joyce Banda, but political analysts predict the race will largely come down to Chakwera, 70, and Mutharika, 85 — two figures who have dominated Malawi’s political stage over the past decade.

Chakwera, who swept to power in 2020 after a historic court-ordered re-run election, has urged citizens to grant him a second term to continue what he describes as the “difficult but necessary” work of rebuilding state institutions and tackling corruption.

But his administration has been dogged by scandals, sluggish growth, and shortages of fuel and foreign currency that have left ordinary Malawians struggling with rising prices.

Mutharika, who ruled from 2014 until he was unseated in the 2020 re-run, is campaigning on a promise to restore economic stability and lower inflation, which has hovered above 30% this year. Critics, however, argue that his previous tenure was marred by allegations of graft and mismanagement, issues that ultimately eroded his popularity.

“This is essentially a referendum on the economy,” said Paul Phiri, a political analyst based in Blantyre.

“Voters are frustrated with shortages, unemployment and high costs of living. That frustration could tip the balance either way.”

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a second-round runoff will be held in the coming weeks — a scenario many observers say is highly likely given the crowded field.

The electoral commission has urged calm and pledged transparency as ballots are cast, amid concerns of possible disputes in a country that has seen contentious elections before. International observers, including teams from the African Union and the European Union, are monitoring the vote.

Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. local time and are set to close at 6 p.m., with preliminary results expected within 48 hours. Final results must be declared within eight days, according to Malawi’s constitution.

For many citizens, the stakes could not be higher. “We want a leader who can bring prices down and make life affordable again,” said Esther Banda, a shopkeeper in Lilongwe.

“People are tired of promises. We want real change.”