Malawi Begins Vote Count in Tightly Contested Election Amid Economic Crisis
By: Itoro Etukudo
Incumbent Lazarus Chakwera faces off against former President Peter Mutharika in a race dominated by inflation, fuel shortages, and public discontent.
Malawi has started counting votes following its general election on September 16, 2025, in what many view as one of the country’s most consequential since the 2019 poll was annulled and redone.
The main contenders are current President, Lazarus Chakwera (age 70), of the Malawi Congress Party, seeking a second term, and his predecessor Peter Mutharika (age 85) of the Democratic Progressive Party.
Voters cast their ballots amid widespread economic distress: inflation above 20%, shortages of fuel and food staples, rising living costs, and failed harvests caused by drought and natural disasters like Cyclone Freddy.
These hardships have eroded confidence in Chakwera’s administration, which critics say has failed to deliver on promises of economic relief.
With 17 candidates on the ballot, analysts expect a runoff if no candidate surpasses 50 percent of the vote.
Early reports suggest that Mutharika may be making a strong showing, posing a serious challenge to Chakwera, though official results are still pending.
Observers are watching closely not just for who wins, but for how the election is managed, given past controversies over electoral fraud and the tight margins that marked the 2019 annulled vote and the 2020 rerun.
Source: AP News
