Malawi’s Former President Wins Election
President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi.
Malawi, an east African country, has just reelected Peter Mutharika as President, defeating incumbent Lazarus Chakwera with 56.8% of the vote. Mutharika was the former president of Malawi from 2014-2020, but was ousted after corruption allegations and subsequent protests. Despite his shaky track record, he has been reelected, with many citizens hoping that his former achievements of lowering inflation to single digits and improving infrastructure during his first term will repeat themselves during his next presidency.
Malawi has one of the poorest economies in the world, and is plagued with climate disasters, agricultural decline and drought—disastrous threats for their agrarian-focused economy. It has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and many citizens who lost their jobs have yet to find work. These factors were key issues for voters considering presidential candidates. Many people were outraged during Chawera’s presidency starting in 2020. While he oversaw numerous issues like economic crises and the goods shortage, there has been limited improvement in numerous aspects. Since his election, Malawi has continued to suffer from economic stagnation, with inflation reaching 33%. 3/4ths of the people live below the poverty line. Because of this, many people suffer from hunger and don’t have the means or resources to get adequate nutrition. Despite promising to weed out corruption, Mutharika seems to have not made a significant effort, furthering public dispute.
Domestically, Malawi is clearly facing both governmental and social issues. This re-election is a determining factor in pushing the country towards or away from progress. Mutharika has already been elected and failed to make meaningful change, but this second chance provides an opportunity to create real change that aligns with the needs of the people. The public is tired of facing the same issues over and over again and is looking forward to a president who fixes the longstanding issues that have afflicted the country for so long, including unemployment and food shortages. During a tumultuous global political environment, Malawi must achieve stable domestic politics, or they could face the consequences on the international stage.