Malawi Votes Amid Economic Crisis: Presidential Election Results Awaited

Tue Sep 23 2025 09:08:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Malawians cast their votes in a pivotal election, economic difficulties dominate the conversation. Current President Lazarus Chakwera competes against former leader Peter Mutharika in a race that could reshape the nation's future amidst rising inflation and fuel shortages.

Malawi has entered a critical phase as polling stations close and vote counting begins in a presidential election shadowed by economic woes. Citizens, eager for change, queued for hours to vote for leaders who can address escalating food prices and foreign currency shortages. With current President Lazarus Chakwera and former leader Peter Mutharika as the main contenders, the results will shape the nation's direction in addressing its pressing economic challenges.

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 years have been especially punishing. Food costs have risen by more than 30% in the last year while wages have not kept pace. The high inflation rate has been attributed to a shortage of foreign currency (forex) in the banks.

There is a lot happening, especially concerning about forex, unemployment, said Rachel Chaguza, a 26-year-old university graduate who sells flowers after voting. We must scrutinise what is going wrong and change things for the better.

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

President Chakwera, who has promised to tackle this shortage, voted in his home village of Malembo, approximately 56km from capital city Lilongwe.

There are 17 candidates overall, but the election is effectively a two-horse race between Chakwera and the man he defeated in 2020, 85-year-old Mutharika.

Malawi's electoral commission reported that about 3.7 million people had cast their ballot, just half of those registered.

Despite some delays at polling stations due to biometric fingerprint reader issues, voting primarily proceeded smoothly.

The counting of votes commenced after the polls closed, and the Malawi Electoral Commission has until September 24 to announce the presidential results.