Malawi Awaits Presidential Election Results Amid Economic Turmoil

Tue Sep 30 2025 03:33:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Malawians cast their votes in a presidential election heavily influenced by economic difficulties, the nation looks forward to a new leadership. Will reforms follow the election outcomes?

Malawians are eagerly awaiting the results of their presidential election, where current President Lazarus Chakwera campaigns for a second term against former leader Peter Mutharika. Voter turnout was impacted by rising economic woes, evidenced by significant inflation and unemployment. Key issues such as forex shortages and fuel scarcity dominated voters' minds as they stood in long queues to cast their ballots in hopes for significant change.

Malawians are waiting to find out who their next president will be as polls have closed in most parts of the country and counting has started.

Thousands of people queued outside polling stations on Tuesday to vote for a president, MPs and local councillors, keenly hoping to effect change in a country swamped by economic troubles. Some are still voting in areas where polling started late.

In his campaign for a second term, current President Lazarus Chakwera pledged to fix Malawi's economy - as did his main rival, octogenarian former leader Peter Mutharika.

If no candidate wins more than half the votes, the top two contenders will head to a run-off.

There is anger in us. I want to change this government. I want young people to be in good jobs, Ettah Nyasulu, a 28-year-old waitress told the AFP press agency before heading out to vote.

Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world, but recent times have been especially punishing. Food costs have been rising at more than 30% in the last year and wages have not kept pace.

The high inflation rate has partly been attributed to a shortage of foreign currency in the banks. There is a lot happening, especially concerning about forex, unemployment, Rachel Chaguza, a 26-year-old university graduate who sells flowers, said.

The southern African country has been crippled by nationwide power outages and fuel shortages. As people lined up to vote, frustrated motorists continued to form long queues for fuel outside petrol stations.

President Chakwera promised to tackle this shortage and was seen waiting in line to vote in his home village, Malembo, which is about 56km (35 miles) northeast of capital city Lilongwe.

The election effectively boils down to a direct competition between Chakwera and Mutharika, but there are other candidates, including 15 others, which include former presidents and even the country’s only female head of state, Joyce Banda.

As of the closure of polls, around 3.7 million voters had cast their ballots, reflecting a turnout of about half of those registered.

Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja is expected to announce the results by the end of September, as the country holds its collective breath in hope for economic recovery and fruitful governance.