Malawi’s former president, Arthur Peter Mutharika, has secured a return to power after winning the country’s presidential election with 56.8 per cent of the vote, according to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
The MEC Chairperson, Annabel Mtalimanja, confirmed the outcome at a press briefing in Lilongwe late on Wednesday, noting that Mutharika, contesting on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket, garnered nearly 3.04 million votes in a field of 17 candidates. His closest challenger, outgoing president Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), secured approximately 1.77 million ballots, representing 33 per cent of the vote. The figures confirmed that Mutharika had surpassed the constitutional threshold of 50 per cent plus one, which is required for an outright victory.
At 85 years old, Mutharika returns to the presidency after previously serving from 2014 to 2020. His running mate, former MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah, will assume the role of vice president.
Chakwera, 70, swiftly conceded defeat in a televised national address, acknowledging that Mutharika had achieved what he termed “an insurmountable lead.” He confirmed that he had personally called to congratulate Mutharika and wished him success as Malawi’s seventh president. In his remarks, Chakwera also thanked his supporters and appealed for national unity, urging citizens to back Mutharika’s renewed leadership for the sake of the country’s development.
Political observers within Malawi have characterised the result as reflective of a protest vote rather than simply a shift in party allegiance. Speaking on a local television programme, political analyst Wonderful Mkhuche suggested that many voters turned to the DPP in response to the MCP’s perceived failure to deliver on key policy commitments.
The MEC’s announcement was delayed until Wednesday evening, despite expectations that results would be made public by midday. This followed a legal challenge by Chakwera, who had sought a High Court injunction to suspend the release. The application was dismissed, clearing the way for the commission to declare the official outcome.
Mutharika’s victory marks a significant moment in Malawi’s democratic journey, with power changing hands peacefully between a sitting president and a former leader. In a regional context, the transition underscores the resilience of Malawi’s electoral institutions, even amid political contestation. The broader implications resonate across southern Africa, where governance debates are shaped not only by personalities but also by the ability of ruling parties to sustain public trust through delivery on socio-economic promises.
