Malawi has begun counting votes after a presidential election widely expected to be a close contest between President Lazarus Chakwera and his long-time rival, former president Peter Mutharika.
Polling stations closed on Tuesday evening following a one-day vote, with election officials confirming that tallying began shortly afterwards. Results must be declared within seven days. Voters also elected members of Parliament and more than 500 local government representatives.
Chakwera, 70, is seeking a second term but faces growing discontent over rising inflation, fuel shortages and the cost-of-living crisis in one of Africa’s poorest nations. His main challenger is Mutharika, 85, who led the country from 2014 until 2020.
The pair have faced each other before. In 2019, Mutharika was declared the winner, but the courts annulled the election over widespread irregularities. A rerun in 2020 saw Chakwera win with strong public support. Five years later, however, that mood has shifted as economic pressures weigh heavily on Malawians.
Although 16 other candidates were on the ballot — including former president Joyce Banda and current vice president Michael Usi — analysts expect the race to come down to Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party and Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party.
“The cost of living is high, and with that many problems have increased,” said Patrick Holeya, a father of six from Thyolo, who cast his vote for Mutharika. “For too long politicians have snubbed us, but today we are the kingmakers.”
The election outcome will determine whether Malawians give Chakwera another five years in office or return Mutharika to power, with a possible run-off if no candidate secures a clear majority.
