Malawi president concedes defeat as Mutharika leads in election

BLANTYRE, Malawi — Malawi President Chakwera conceded defeat in the presidential election on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, as partial results indicated former President Peter Mutharika was ahead in the race.

Counting continued after polls closed as the Malawi Electoral Commission released the first batch of tallies from urban and rural constituencies. Officials cautioned that the tally was incomplete and that final results would come later, but the leading indicators suggested a shift in support toward Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party in several regions.

Chakwera's concession marks the first time in the current cycle of Malawi politics that a sitting president has openly acknowledged a likely defeat before an official nationwide result is announced. The concession comes as Malawians await the full national tally, with political observers noting the electoral process was carried out under tight security and with international observers monitoring the vote to ensure transparency.

Peter Mutharika, who previously held the presidency from 2014 to 2020, is seeking a return to power with his Democratic Progressive Party. His campaign focused on economic stability, energy supply, and social services, issues that resonate differently across the country’s regions. Analysts caution that early results can shift as ballots from rural districts and some urban centers continue to be counted, and they emphasize that the Malawi Electoral Commission will publish the official results once the count is complete.

Malawi's electoral process has in recent years drawn attention from regional organizations and international partners, who have urged calm and peaceful conduct during the vote and in the transition period. If the results hold, the country would enter a transition that could shape its domestic policy agenda ahead of regional cooperation and development initiatives that affect southern Africa.

Officials stressed that counting will continue over the coming days, and the electoral commission has pledged to release nationwide totals and a final result as soon as possible. In the meantime, political leaders urged supporters to await official statements and to avoid violence as the results unfold.

Chakwera's administration has pursued reforms in anti-corruption and public service delivery, but his party faces a crowded political landscape and a durable rural-urban divide. The outcome of the election could influence Malawi's approach to economic reform, debt management, and investment in infrastructure as the country seeks to recover from a difficult period in the economy.