Two former presidents of Malawi have officially entered the race to challenge President Lazarus Chakwera in the country’s upcoming general elections, scheduled for September 16. Amid a backdrop of economic crisis and political discontent, Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda launched separate campaigns on Sunday, seeking to return to power and steer the nation out of deepening hardship.
The country of 21 million, located in southern Africa, is grappling with an economic meltdown marked by a soaring inflation rate nearing 30 percent. According to the World Bank, nearly three-quarters of Malawians live in extreme poverty, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral contest focused on economic recovery and governance.
Peter Mutharika, 85, led a major rally in Blantyre, the country’s second-largest city, where he promised to “rescue” the nation from “hunger, poverty, and fear.” The former law professor and leader of the Democratic Progressive Party served as president from 2014 until 2020, when his re-election was nullified by the courts due to irregularities.
“Today, Malawi is under oppression,” Mutharika declared. “We should respect government, not fear it.”
Mutharika’s sentiments echo growing dissatisfaction with Chakwera’s administration, which has been accused by opposition leaders of suppressing dissent. Tensions flared in June when unidentified men attacked a protest calling for an independent audit of the voters’ roll, raising fears of political intimidation. The ruling Malawi Congress Party has denied any involvement.
In a separate launch in the central town of Ntcheu, Joyce Banda, 74, pledged to focus on youth empowerment and job creation. Banda served as Malawi’s first female president from 2012 to 2014 and leads the People’s Party. She promised practical solutions, including fixing passport delays and providing motorcycles to unemployed youth to spur financial independence.
Also in the race are at least two other contenders, including current Vice President Saulos Chilima. President Chakwera, 70, who secured 58 percent of the vote in a court-ordered 2020 rerun, is seeking re-election amid mounting criticism over economic mismanagement.
With inflation at 27.1 percent in June and public frustration surging, the race to lead Malawi is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in its democratic history.
