Malawi 2025 Elections: Results, Impact, and Future Outlook

On 16 September 2025, Malawians turned out in large numbers for the general elections, with roughly 76% of registered voters casting ballots. Former president Peter Mutharika (85) of the Democratic Progressive Party secured a first-round win by receiving about 56.8% of valid votes, compared to 33.0% for incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera. The Malawi Electoral Commission’s official tally confirmed Mutharika’s victory and declared a peaceful transfer of power. President Chakwera swiftly conceded defeat “out of respect for your will” and pledged to support a calm handover. This outcome ends Chakwera’s single term (2020–2025) and marks Mutharika’s return to the presidency.

Election Contest: The 2025 vote was the fourth face-off between Mutharika and Chakwera (they previously ran against each other in 2014, 2019 and the 2020 rerun). It is also the third consecutive Malawian election resulting in a peaceful change of leadership. Analysts noted that voter sentiment was heavily influenced by economic concerns. In fact, many commentators described the results as a protest vote: one Malawian political expert said the outcome reflected widespread disillusionment with Chakwera’s stewardship of the economy. In the lead-up to the vote, almost 11 million Malawians were registered to vote, and the robust turnout (over 76%) underscored high public engagement. Election observers from the EU, SADC and AU reported the voting itself was orderly. Even before official results, Chakwera and other candidates conceded as tallies showed Mutharika with an insurmountable lead.

Economic and Social Context

The campaign was dominated by Malawi’s deepening economic crisis. Under Chakwera, growth lagged far behind population increase and inflation soared. In the months before the election, inflation had climbed into the 30%-range, eroding living standards. Severe climate shocks – notably Cyclone Freddy (2023) and a 2024 drought – destroyed crops and intensified food shortages. According to the World Bank, nearly three-quarters of Malawians live below the $3/day poverty line, and about half the population is undernourished. Public anger over fuel and fertilizer scarcities and price hikes was palpable. Mutharika’s campaign promised to stabilize the economy: he vowed to end foreign-exchange shortages and bring down inflation, leveraging his prior record of infrastructure improvements and price stability during his 2014–2020 term. Economist Bertha Bangara Chikadza noted that the new president’s most urgent tasks will be to alleviate the forex crunch and high inflation, measures that should “automatically have a direct positive impact on social issues”.

Photo: Flickr

International Reaction

Major international partners quickly praised the transparent and peaceful election process. The European Union issued an official statement congratulating Peter Mutharika and commending the Malawian people “for their strong attachment to democracy” and a calm Election Day. The EU observation mission similarly noted that voting was “competitive, well-managed” and promised detailed recommendations for future reforms. The African Union Commission Chairperson likewise congratulated the president-elect, lauding Malawians for their “enthusiastic, peaceful and orderly engagement in this credible democratic process”. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malawi emphasized solidarity with the people and reaffirmed support for “a peaceful, credible and inclusive democratic process” before, during and after the vote. Regional observers (SADC/AU-COMESA) had earlier cautioned for transparency in result tabulation, but by and large the final announcements were accepted without dispute. Even opposition leaders urged calm. For example, former president Bakili Muluzi publicly encouraged supporters to accept the outcome once Mutharika’s lead became clear.

Parliamentary Outcome & Challenges

The election also reshaped Malawi’s National Assembly. Early unofficial tallies showed that no party won an outright majority. Mutharika’s DPP emerged as the single largest bloc with 81 seats, but independents won 69 seats and Chakwera’s MCP took 52 seats. (The remaining seats went to smaller parties: UTM, UDF, and others.) As analysts pointed out, the fragmented result means that forming a governing coalition will be necessary; Mutharika will likely need to ally with many of the independent MPs to reach the 115-seat majority. Debate even arose over who should be Leader of the Opposition, since the independents outnumbered Chakwera’s party.

Implications for Malawi’s Future

The new government faces an urgent mandate to address Malawi’s economic woes. Experts stress that currency and fuel shortages must be resolved quickly, and inflation brought under control, if living standards are to improve. President Mutharika has pledged to prioritize economic growth and stability – including by attracting investment and negotiating relief with donors. Notably, the EU has pledged continued support: its statement reaffirmed that the EU remains “committed to continue supporting Malawi on its path to reforms and to continue strengthening its relations”. International partners will watch closely whether the new administration follows through on commitments to good governance and anti-corruption. The economy will likely be the key test: rising revenues or investment could reduce poverty, whereas failure to act could deepen hardship (as nearly 75% of the population remains vulnerable).

Lazarus Chakwera, the incumbent president of Malawi, in Lilongwe in July. Credit: Amos Gumulira/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images.

Democratically, the election bolstered confidence in Malawi’s institutions. It marked the third straight election yielding a change of power, a sign of mature democratic norms. The peaceful transition and the public’s engagement suggest that Malawian voters continue to believe in electoral solutions to their problems. Nonetheless, observers note the record number of invalid ballots (roughly 2.8% cast as null, up from 1.3% in 2020), indicating a need for better voter education in future polls.

Support Malawi’s Democracy

Upholding free and fair elections is an ongoing task for Malawians and the international community. Readers who care about democracy in Malawi can take action today by supporting the Pledge4Peace campaign for Malawi – “Democracy, Justice, Free Elections.” Vote in the Pledge4Peace Malawi campaign to strengthen democratic reforms and accountability. Every endorsement helps reinforce transparent, peaceful elections and a government that is responsive to the people.

The September 2025 election resulted in a decisive victory for Peter Mutharika amid Malawi’s deep economic challenges. International observers and governments broadly congratulated Malawi on a credible and orderly vote. Looking ahead, the new administration’s success in reviving the economy and forging a broad-based government will shape Malawi’s trajectory. The strong turnout and the processes around the vote, however, underscore that Malawians remain committed to democracy. By supporting initiatives like the Pledge4Peace, "Malawi - Safeguard Democracy, Justice & Free Elections", campaign, concerned citizens worldwide can help ensure that Malawi’s elections – past and future – continue to reflect the will of its people.