Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has conceded defeat in the September 16 presidential election, clearing the path for former leader Peter Mutharika to reclaim power after five years in opposition. In a televised address on Wednesday, just hours before the final results were due, Chakwera confirmed he had spoken directly with Mutharika to congratulate him. “This outcome is a reflection of your collective will to have a change of government, and so it is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,” he told Malawians.
Partial results released earlier this week showed Mutharika, 85, securing about 60% of the vote well above the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. Chakwera, 70, trailed significantly after a turbulent first term marked by economic stagnation, soaring inflation, and food insecurity following droughts and a devastating cyclone. Mutharika, who led Malawi from 2014 to 2020, campaigned on promises of stability, lower inflation, and a return to what he described as “better days” under his stewardship. His previous tenure was credited with infrastructure improvements and curbing inflation, though marred by allegations of cronyism and corruption, which he denies.
This election was Malawi’s first since the disputed 2019 poll, when Mutharika was initially declared the winner. That result was later annulled by the Constitutional Court after evidence of widespread irregularities, including tampered tally sheets. A historic rerun in 2020 ushered Chakwera into power amid nationwide celebrations. Five years on, however, discontent has grown in one of the world’s poorest countries, where nearly 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. For many Malawians, Mutharika’s comeback signals both a return to experienced leadership and a generational clash over the nation’s economic future.
