Peter Mutharika returns as Malawi's president after economic discontent

Peter Mutharika, 85, has been re-elected president of Malawi, unseating incumbent Lazarus Chakwera amid widespread economic hardship.

24 sept 2025 - 22:00 • 3 min read

Peter Mutharika is set to return to power as the president of Malawi, five years after his previous term ended with a landmark court ruling. The 85-year-old former leader appears to have triumphed in last week's general election, unseating his rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.

The election commission announced that Mutharika secured 56.8 percent of the vote, while Chakwera received 33 percent. Chakwera conceded defeat on Wednesday, acknowledging Mutharika's "insurmountable lead" and committing to a peaceful transfer of power.

Mutharika, who previously served as president from 2014 to 2020, campaigned on a platform promising a return to better times, capitalizing on widespread discontent over Malawi's severe economic downturn. Since Chakwera took office in 2020, the country has experienced economic stagnation, with inflation soaring past 30 percent and shortages of fuel and food hitting the impoverished nation hard. According to the World Bank, nearly three-quarters of Malawians live below the poverty line.

During campaign rallies, Mutharika, a former law professor, evoked memories of his previous tenure, suggesting life was better under his leadership. He pointed to infrastructure development and a significant drop in inflation during his first term. However, his past presidency was also marked by corruption allegations and power outages.

Mutharika's political journey has been eventful. He initially pursued a career in academia, teaching international justice at universities across three continents before pivoting to politics in 2004. He served in his brother Bingu wa Mutharika's cabinet before his brother's death in 2012. He was later charged with treason, accusations he dismissed as politically motivated, and which were dropped after his election victory in 2014.

His first presidency saw the securing of billions of dollars in Chinese loans for infrastructure projects, and inflation was brought down to single digits from a high of 24 percent. However, his tenure also faced scrutiny over corruption, including accusations of receiving kickbacks from a government contract, though he was later cleared.

The 2019 election, in which Mutharika was declared the victor, was controversially annulled by the Constitutional Court due to widespread tampering, including the use of correction fluid on results sheets. This led to a rerun in 2020, which saw Chakwera win. Commentators had mockingly referred to Mutharika as the "Tipp-Ex president" following the annulment.

Despite suggestions he would not run again, Mutharika entered the presidential race this year, driven by what he described as his supporters' desire for him to rescue the country from its current economic woes. While he was less visible during the campaign compared to Chakwera, sparking speculation about his health, voters have ultimately placed their trust in him.

Mutharika, who is described as reserved and more at ease with books than political rallies, will face the significant challenge of addressing Malawi's pressing economic issues upon his return to the presidential residence.