Malawians Vote Amid Economic Crisis and Lingering Political Tensions
Presidential, parliamentary and local polls open as voters confront high inflation, fuel shortages and concerns over electoral integrity
Malawians went to the polls on Tuesday in presidential, parliamentary and local elections marked by a deepening cost-of-living crisis, recurring power outages and anxiety about the integrity of the vote.
Polling stations opened early and were scheduled to close at 14:00 GMT. Some 7.2 million registered voters are eligible to choose a president from 17 candidates, elect 229 constituency members of parliament and fill 509 local council seats. Under rules introduced after the disputed 2019 contest, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright; otherwise a run-off will be held.
Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party sought a second term after winning a court-ordered re-run in 2020, while his principal rival is former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party. The two men have been central figures in Malawian politics for a decade and face each other for the fourth time on the ballot. Other prominent contenders include former President Joyce Banda, Vice-President Michael Usi and former central bank governor Dalitso Kabambe.
The economic situation was at the forefront of voter concerns. Malawi’s economy has been hit by a succession of shocks, including Cyclone Freddy in 2023, a regional drought and acute shortages of foreign currency that have contributed to soaring prices. Inflation has been reported at roughly 27%, and households have faced rising food costs, periodic fuel shortages that produced long queues at petrol stations, and frequent power cuts.
Campaigning was dominated by debates over who can restore stability and improve living standards. Chakwera, a former theology lecturer who entered politics in 2013, points to infrastructure projects such as road construction and the resumption of rail services after decades as achievements of his administration. Critics, including some church leaders, say the government has not done enough to curb graft and to deliver relief from the economic squeeze.
Mutharika, an 85-year-old former law professor who governed from 2014 to 2020, has argued that his record on economic management compares favorably with the incumbent’s, a point his supporters cite amid the high inflation. He has faced questions about his age and limited public appearances during the campaign.
Corruption has been a recurring issue in Malawian politics and was one of the pledges Chakwera made when he first ran for office. His administration says it has pursued cases, but critics point to the absence of a permanent head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau since the departure of its former director and to the dropping of some high-profile charges last year. Past administrations, including those led by Banda and Mutharika, have also been implicated in graft scandals.
The fatal plane crash in June last year that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima has also lingered over the election. Chilima, who had broken with Chakwera and been popular with younger voters, led the UTM party and was expected to be a significant figure in national politics had he lived. Government and foreign investigations found no evidence of foul play, but some citizens remain suspicious, a sentiment that opposition parties have occasionally amplified during campaigning.
Concerns about the management and impartiality of the electoral commission were raised repeatedly in the run-up to the vote. Civil society groups and opposition parties accused the commission of favouring the governing party and alleged links between some commissioners and the ruling party; the commission denied bias. In June, a protest calling for the resignation of the commission's top officials was attacked by masked men wielding machetes, heightening fears about politically motivated intimidation ahead of the polls. Observers have also reported other incidents of violence and threats in the campaign period.
Counting was set to begin at polling stations once voting closed at 14:00 GMT. The electoral commission has until the end of 24 September to announce the presidential result and until 30 September to release parliamentary outcomes. Given the crowded presidential field and the 50% threshold requirement, analysts have warned a runoff is likely, in which major parties would seek alliances with smaller contestants to secure a majority.
International and regional observers are expected to monitor the process, as they did during the 2020 re-run that followed the annulment of the 2019 result. That annulment by the Constitutional Court, which cited widespread irregularities, was hailed as a milestone for judicial independence in Malawi. The court’s action led to the 2020 re-run that brought Chakwera to power.
Voters said their choices would be guided chiefly by immediate economic concerns and by who they trusted to tackle long-standing governance challenges. As ballots are tallied, attention will focus on whether the election proceeds peacefully, whether the commission can deliver timely and transparent results, and whether any outcome will prompt legal challenges or public protests that could test Malawi’s institutions.
