Voting has begun in Malawi in a highly anticipated presidential election that pits the current president, Lazarus Chakwera, against his predecessor, Peter Mutharika. The election is a rematch of the 2019 vote, which was later annulled by a court due to irregularities, leading to Chakwera’s victory in a 2020 rerun.
The main issues on voters’ minds are the country’s economic struggles, including soaring inflation, fuel shortages, and a cost-of-living crisis.
These challenges are compounded by the effects of recent natural disasters, such as Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and an El Niño-inspired drought in 2024, which have severely impacted food security.
This election is being held under a “50% + 1” rule, meaning a candidate must secure more than half of the votes to win, and analysts believe a runoff between the two main contenders is a strong possibility.
