Malawians are voting in presidential and parliamentary elections, following a turbulent five years that has seen the economic crisis worsening in the southern African nation.
President Lazarus Chakwera is vying for a second term, his main rival being Peter Mutharika, an octogenarian who has previously been in office.
In the cities, campaigning has been overshadowed by fuel shortages, which have led to long, frustrating queues at petrol stations. The rising cost of living has also been a major concern of voters.
A presidential run-off will be held if no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes cast in Tuesday's election.
What are Malawians voting for?
The 7.2 million registered voters will be taking part in three elections once polling stations open at 04:00 GMT:
- Presidential - there are 17 candidates to choose from
- Parliamentary - 229 constituency MPs will be elected
- Local - 509 councillor positions are up for grabs.
Who could be the next president?
Among the 17 hopefuls there are two clear front-runners.
Chakwera and Mutharika will square off against each other at the polls for the fourth time - though the third time ended up not counting.
Mutharika first defeated Chakwera in 2014, but when he was declared winner over Chakwera in the next election in 2019 the result was annulled. Chakwera won the re-run the following year.
Lazarus Chakwera - Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
Chakwera, a former theology lecturer and preacher, had no political experience when he emerged as leader of the MCP in 2013.
When he ran for president in 2014 he was unsuccessful, but in 2020 he triumphed, beating the incumbent, Mutharika, in that unprecedented re-run.
Chakwera's time in office has been marred by economic turmoil and allegations of corruption. The 70-year-old did, however, reintroduce train services in Malawi for the first time in over three decades. He has also overseen major road construction across the country.
Peter Mutharika - Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Mutharika, an 85-year-old former lawyer and law lecturer, led Malawi from 2014 to 2020.
He is the brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in 2012.
Like Chakwera, Mutharika is also burdened by corruption allegations and links to economic crises. However, his supporters would argue that the current high inflation rate (around 27%) is proof that Mutharika managed the economy better than his successor.
Mutharika's age may count against him this election - speculation about his health is rife, especially as he has rarely been seen out in public during the campaign period.
Other contenders garnering attention are former president Joyce Banda (People's Party), current Vice-President Michael Usi (Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu) and former reserve bank governor Dalitso Kabambe (UTM).
What are the key issues for voters?
The economy
Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world, but the past few years have been especially punishing.
The country was devastated by Cyclone Freddy that killed hundreds of people in 2023, then a drought swept across southern Africa the following year. Food prices skyrocketed due to a short supply of crops, pushing many Malawians into extreme poverty.
Additionally, Malawi has been forced to devalue its currency and was recently crippled by fuel shortages and nationwide power outages.
Corruption
Chakwera has vowed to clear the rubble of corruption but critics say progress has faltered.
The former vice-president's death
Vice-President Saulos Chilima's death in a plane crash last year has also influenced sentiments.
How will Tuesday's presidential vote work?
Following the controversy of the 2019 election, Malawi has implemented a new system, where a candidate must gain more than 50% of the total votes to win the presidency in the first round.
There is a strong possibility that this year's candidates will not reach the threshold, meaning a run-off election may occur.
The electoral commission has up until the end of 24 September to announce the presidential result and the end of 30 September for the parliamentary election.
Will the elections be free and fair?
Despite past incidents, some Malawians still trust the electoral process, although recent accusations against the electoral commission have raised concerns over bias and political violence.
