Malawi’s former president, Peter Mutharika, has secured a surprising return to power, winning last week’s general election with 57% of the vote. Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, received 33% of ballots and conceded defeat before the official results were announced, calling Mutharika to congratulate him on the “historic win.”
Mutharika, 85, previously served as president from 2014 to 2020 but was unseated after the Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 election, citing widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on vote tallies. Chakwera won the subsequent rerun by a decisive margin, marking the beginning of a political rivalry that has spanned four elections.
Voters reacted enthusiastically to Mutharika’s victory. In the capital, Lilongwe, supporters took to the streets, singing, dancing, and beeping car horns. At Civo Stadium, where Chakwera had held his final campaign rally, crowds gathered overnight to celebrate. Some demonstrators tore down posters of Chakwera, chanting “Achoke!”—a local expression meaning “he must go.”
Mutharika inherits an economy in crisis. Malawi faces fuel and foreign currency shortages, frequent power cuts, and inflation approaching 30%, with basic goods such as frozen chicken costing roughly $20 in a country where many live on less than $2 a day. Analysts note that although economic and governance challenges existed during Mutharika’s first term, they intensified under Chakwera.
Mutharika, a law professor, taught at universities in the U.S., Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia before entering politics in 2004. He served as justice, education, and foreign minister under his late brother Bingu, and won the presidency in 2014. His first term included infrastructure projects funded by China, as well as lower inflation; however, his administration faced allegations of corruption and service disruptions.
During this year’s campaign, Mutharika emphasized a “return to proven leadership,” appealing to voters frustrated by rising living costs and economic instability. He rarely appeared at public rallies, in contrast to Chakwera, prompting speculation about his health and stamina to lead at 85.
Mutharika is expected to address the nation soon, and the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place within 30 days of the announcement of the results.
