Malawi Ex-President Peter Mutharika Pulls Clear Lead in Presidential Vote-Count
Provisional results show Mutharika at about 66-68%, far ahead of incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, as full tallies are awaited
Former President Peter Mutharika has surged into a dominant position in Malawi’s 2025 presidential election, with provisional results from 24 out of 36 electoral councils indicating he has secured approximately 66-68% of valid votes, while incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera trails at around 20-25%, according to the latest tallies.
Malawi’s Electoral Commission has stated that it is carefully verifying and compiling votes from the remaining councils, with full results expected by September 24, in line with legal deadlines. If no candidate exceeds 50% of valid votes, a runoff will be required.
At 85 years old, Mutharika, who served as president from 2014 to 2020, was voted out in 2020 in a rerun election ordered after his 2019 win was annulled over irregularities.
He now appears to be reclaiming power after leading in both opposition strongholds and areas traditionally aligned with Chakwera, including Lilongwe and Nkhotakota.
Chakwera, 70, though trailing significantly in the provisional count, has not conceded. His campaign has emphasized that votes from rural and hard-to-reach areas are still to be counted.
Observers note that these areas might shift totals somewhat, but are unlikely, under current trends, to erase Mutharika’s lead.
The election, held on September 16, comes amid rising economic hardships in Malawi, including high inflation (over 20-27%), food and fuel shortages, and effects from climate-driven disasters like droughts and cyclones.
These pressures have heavily featured in campaign discourse, with many voters citing cost of living and governance issues as key.
International and local observer missions have broadly praised the voting day as peaceful.
However, the Electoral Commission is being closely watched after previous elections were disrupted by disputes and legal challenges.
The 2019 election was annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Court due to “widespread irregularities,” making the integrity of this count a central concern for many Malawians.
With the gap between candidates wide and momentum favoring Mutharika, the political atmosphere is tense.
His supporters celebrate what looks increasingly like a return to office, while Chakwera’s camp urges patience and accuracy in the final count.
By law, the commission must announce the outcome of the presidential vote within seven days of polling, and any potential runoff must be held within 30 days if required.
Source: AP News
