Malawi Election: Vote Counting Underway Amidst Economic Turmoil; Runoff Anticipated

BLANTYRE, Malawi – Vote counting is currently underway in Malawi’s presidential election, a contest widely anticipated to be a tight race between two seasoned political rivals. The election, held on Tuesday, comes as the Southern African nation grapples with severe economic challenges, including soaring inflation, a pervasive cost-of-living crisis, and critical fuel shortages, making economic stability the paramount concern for voters.

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, is seeking a second term, facing a formidable challenge from 85-year-old former President Peter Mutharika. This election marks another chapter in their rivalry, reminiscent of the 2019 polls where Mutharika’s victory was controversially nullified by a court due to widespread irregularities, leading to an historic rerun in 2020 which Chakwera won.

Since Chakwera took office, the national mood has shifted, with inflation surging from approximately 8% to 27%. Daily life for many of Malawi’s 21 million citizens, over 80% of whom reside in rural areas, is marked by long queues at petrol stations and unaffordable staple foods like corn. The economic hardship has been exacerbated by natural disasters, including Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and an El Niño-induced drought in 2024.

With polls now closed, election officials have confirmed that vote tallying began late Tuesday afternoon. Malawian electoral law mandates that results must be announced within a week. Analysts widely predict that no single candidate will secure the required 50% plus one vote in the first round, making a runoff election between Chakwera and Mutharika highly probable within 30 days of the initial results. Voters also cast ballots for parliamentary and local government representatives.

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