Malawi’s former president Peter Mutharika has opened an early lead in the country’s presidential election, according to provisional tallies released over the weekend.
Figures from around a quarter of the nation’s councils indicate that the 85-year-old former leader has secured about 51 percent of the votes, while incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera trails at 39 percent, Reuters reported on Sunday.
The closely watched September 16 vote had been forecast as a two-horse contest between Mutharika, who served from 2014 to 2020, and Chakwera, who took office five years ago under promises of reform.
Mutharika has campaigned on a message of stability and a “return to better days,” pointing to his record of lowering inflation and expanding infrastructure. However, his previous term was marred by allegations of cronyism. Chakwera, 70, pledged to tackle corruption when elected in 2020, but critics argue his efforts have been selective and sluggish.
Malawi’s economic challenges have dominated the campaign. Cyclones and droughts in recent years have destroyed crops, worsening food insecurity. Inflation has remained above 20 percent for more than three years, fueling discontent with the current administration.
The Malawi Electoral Commission has until September 24 to announce provisional results, stressing that all tally sheets are being cross-checked for accuracy. Officials have warned candidates against prematurely declaring victory.
To avoid a runoff, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of valid votes. The high-stakes contest carries echoes of 2019, when Mutharika’s victory was annulled by the constitutional court after irregularities, including tampering of results sheets with correction fluid. That ruling paved the way for Chakwera’s 2020 win in a historic rerun.
Observers say the outcome of this election could prove pivotal for Malawi’s political stability and its path out of prolonged economic hardship.
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