Lilongwe, Malawi — Former President Peter Mutharika has taken an early lead in Malawi’s closely watched presidential election, provisional results from one-quarter of the country’s councils showed this week.
According to tallies released by the electoral commission, Mutharika has secured around 51% of valid votes in nine of Malawi’s 36 councils, compared to nearly 39% for incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, Reuters calculations indicated.
A candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
A Two-Horse Race
Political analysts had long predicted the September 16 vote would be a direct contest between Mutharika, 85, and Chakwera, 70 — leaders of Malawi’s two largest political parties.
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Mutharika, a former law professor credited with improving infrastructure and curbing inflation during his 2014–2020 presidency, is seeking a return to power. Chakwera, a former pastor who came to office in 2020 pledging to fight corruption, has overseen a period marked by economic stagnation, high inflation, and worsening climate shocks including droughts and a devastating cyclone.
Inflation in the Southern African nation has remained above 20% for more than three years, eroding household incomes and fueling discontent.
Results Awaited
The electoral commission has until September 24 to announce full provisional results. It has urged candidates not to claim victory prematurely, stressing that every tally sheet is being thoroughly cross-checked to ensure accuracy.
Malawi’s courts have previously played a decisive role in elections. In 2020, Chakwera won a re-run after the constitutional court annulled Mutharika’s 2019 victory, citing irregularities such as the use of correction fluid on results sheets.
For now, all eyes remain on the commission’s announcement, which will determine whether Malawi heads for a second round or a decisive win in the first.
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