Just five years after being dramatically unseated by a court ruling, Peter Mutharika is set to return to power as the president of Malawi. Mutharika, who held the top job from 2014 to 2020, triumphed in last week's general election, usurping his long-time rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office. But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency.
This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics. Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.
Mutharika eventually pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president. He served in his brother's cabinet as justice minister, education minister and then foreign minister.
Tensions emerged in 2010 when reports suggested Bingu planned to name his brother as the DPP's presidential candidate for the 2014 elections. However, Bingu's sudden death in 2012 abruptly interrupted these plans. Following the vacancy, a power struggle ensued, leading to controversial actions that resulted in Joyce Banda becoming Malawi's first female president.
Mutharika was charged with treason under allegations surrounding his brother's death, which he dismissed as political maneuvering. He ultimately won the presidency in 2014, highlighting significant economic improvements such as reduced inflation rates, although his presidency was marred by corruption scandals and governance challenges.
Despite losing the 2019 elections and the ensuing Constitutional Court ruling, Mutharika has made a surprising return to the political arena. His promise to salvage Malawi from economic challenges resonates with voters, even as he navigates questions about his health and political stamina at 85 years of age.
Many Malawians are hopeful that Mutharika can once again steer the nation towards better times amid the ongoing challenges of inflation and poverty.
