The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi’s principal opposition party, has formally endorsed former President Peter Mutharika as its candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, scheduled for 16 September 2025. This endorsement, announced at the DPP’s national convention held in Blantyre, sets the stage for a high-stakes political contest in which Mutharika, who previously governed from 2014 to 2020, will challenge the incumbent, President Lazarus Chakwera, of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
At 84 years of age, Mutharika, a former law professor, accepted his party’s nomination with a resounding commitment to revitalising the Malawian economy, which he characterised as suffering from stunted growth and beset by foreign currency shortages that have precipitated widespread deficits in fuel and medical supplies. He declared his intention to replicate the opposition victory that originally brought him to power, stating, “We come from a background of winning from the opposition. We will do the same next year. We are coming to fix the economy.”
During his previous tenure, Mutharika’s administration was marked by infrastructural developments and a deceleration in inflation, achievements that he is likely to highlight in his campaign. However, his leadership was not without controversy. Accusations of corruption and cronyism marred his presidency, allegations that Mutharika has consistently denied.
As the electoral contest takes shape, the incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, aged 69, will be seeking a second term. Chakwera’s ascent to the presidency was driven by promises to combat corruption and stimulate economic growth, aspirations that have met with mixed outcomes. His critics argue that the economy remains fragile and that the anticipated improvements have yet to materialise.
A significant development that could potentially alter the dynamics of the upcoming election is Mutharika’s intention to form an alliance with the United Transformation Movement (UTM), the party established by the late Vice President Saulos Chilima. Chilima, who played a pivotal role in Chakwera’s victory in the 2020 election, tragically passed away in a plane crash in June 2024. Following this loss, the UTM party has signalled its intent to withdraw from the ruling coalition, though it has not yet confirmed an alliance with the DPP. Should such an alliance be formalised, it could significantly reshape the electoral landscape.
As Malawi prepares for the 2025 election, the prospect of a rematch between Mutharika and Chakwera looms large, with the nation’s economic trajectory likely to be a central theme in the campaigns of both candidates.
