Malawi’s September election: Chakwera, Mutharika and a nation at the crossroads

The Malawi Electoral Commission said 7.2 million people have registered to vote in the September 16 polls, which will include presidential, parliamentary, and local elections. That figure represents 65.7 percent of the country’s 10.9 million eligible voters.

Chakwera is seeking a second term in office, while Mutharika is mounting a bid to reclaim the presidency he lost in the disputed 2019 elections.

Peter Mutharika, brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, held office from 2014 until 2020. His bid for re-election in 2019 was nullified by the courts after widespread irregularities, prompting a historic rerun of the presidential vote in 2020.

Also in the race are former president Joyce Banda of the People’s Party and current Vice President Michael Usi, adding further weight to what is shaping up to be one of Malawi’s most competitive elections in years.

What are the key issues?

Malawi has grappled with a wave of high-profile corruption scandals in recent years, leaving voters eager for leaders who can restore integrity to public office. The country is also battling double-digit inflation, persistent fuel and medicine shortages, and a chronic lack of foreign currency.

The Central Bank has devalued the kwacha in response to foreign exchange shortfalls, supply disruptions, and mounting inflationary pressures. President Lazarus Chakwera, seeking a second term, has acknowledged the nation’s turbulent stretch—marked by economic hardship, tropical cyclones, and a severe drought—while urging Malawians to keep faith in his leadership.

Opposition parties have sought to tie President Lazarus Chakwera’s party to the 2024 plane crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima, despite investigations—including international experts—finding no evidence of foul play. While officials have dismissed the claims, lingering technical questions have kept public suspicion alive.

Under Malawi’s electoral law, a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to win outright. Analysts say no contender is likely to reach that threshold, raising the prospect of post-election coalitions. Polls point to a tight race, with alliances expected to play a decisive role.