LIVE: Vote count underway as polls close in Malawi general election

LIVE UPDATES

14:33 GMT: Malawians are waiting to find out who their next president will be as polls have closed in most parts of the country and counting has started.

Thousands of people are still queued outside polling stations to vote for a president, MPs and local councillors, keenly hoping to effect change in a country swamped by economic troubles. Some are still voting in areas where polling started late.

14:25 GMT: Malawi Defense Force soldiers have apprehended and handed over to Police a man who was wearing military uniform and was causing havoc around polling centers at Chimwala in Mangochi.

14:03 GMT: Vote counting begins in most centre

13:11 GMT: Polls will close in less than an hour

13:06 GMT: Former President Bakili Muluzi speaks to the media after casting his vote.

12:57 GMT: President Chakwera casts his vote while citizens share their expectations.

11:52 GMT: Voters detect some electoral malpractices

11:50 GMT: Opposition leader and former president Peter Mutharika casts his vote

11:48 GMT: 57% of registered voters have voted so far

8:11 GMT: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, has expressed satisfaction with voter turnout at polling centres monitored by Commissioners and staff.

She, however, reminded Malawians who have not yet voted to take advantage of the remaining hours before polls close at 4 p.m. today.

“We continue appealing to every voter to go and vote because it is their right,” said Mtalimanja.

7:24 GMT: Voting ongoing in the west of the capital, Lilongwe, Malawi.

5:29 GMT: Press briefing by the Malawi Electoral Commission

5:19 GMT: 'We don’t expect any candidate to pass 50%', Malawi political scientist says

Speaking to Global South World, a Malawian political scientist, Wonderful Mkhutche, said the mood on the ground is far less enthusiastic than in past elections. “People are excited to vote, but when it comes to thinking about the country beyond the elections, there’s not much hope among most voters,” he observed.

5:10 GMT: Smartmatic technology having some challenges in verifying voters in some parts of the country.

5:03 GMT: Vice President Michael Usi casts his vote at Mamatete Primary School in Blantyre Michiru-Chirimba Constituency

4:53 GMT: Polls open as voters wait in line to cast their votes for the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors in the Lilongwe Council.

Polls are expected to open at 04:00 GMT and close at 16:00 GMT across all polling stations in all 3 regions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

History

Malawi was under the rule of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from independence in 1964 until the country held its first multi-party elections in 1994.

Since then, power has shifted among several parties, including the United Democratic Front, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the People’s Party, and the MCP.

Chakwera’s victory for the MCP in 2020 was seen as a landmark in Malawi’s political history. The year before, then-president Peter Mutharika had been declared the winner of the general election.

The Constitutional Court, however, annulled that result, pointing to serious irregularities such as the use of Tipp-Ex correction fluid on tally sheets. Judges ordered a re-run in 2020, which Chakwera won with 59% of the vote after forming an alliance with Saulos Chilima.

Mutharika rejected the re-run as “unacceptable,” but the court’s decision was widely praised as a rare and powerful defence of democracy and judicial independence in the region.

Who are the main candidates?

President Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party, MCP): Elected in 2020 after the annulment of the 2019 polls, he is seeking a second term. Chakwera has framed his campaign around continuity, arguing that his government has laid the foundation for reform despite setbacks.

Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party, DPP): The 85-year-old former president is attempting a comeback. He was ousted after the court-sanctioned rerun in 2020 and remains a divisive figure. Supporters see him as a seasoned leader; critics recall the protests that ended his rule.

Joyce Banda (People’s Party, PP): A former president (2012–2014) running again, Banda is emphasising women’s empowerment and youth inclusion. Her return adds weight to an already crowded field.

In total, 17 candidates have been cleared by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), though analysts say only five or six are serious contenders.

Electoral system & voter roll

Malawi’s president is elected by an absolute majority (50% + 1), which almost guarantees a runoff in a fragmented race. Members of the National Assembly are chosen under the first-past-the-post system in 193 single-member constituencies.

According to the MEC, 7.2 million voters are registered, representing about 66% of eligible adults. Women account for a majority of registered voters at 57%.

When will results be announced?

The presidential election will be announced by the end of 24 September and the parliamentary results will be announced by the end of 30 September.

The economic backdrop

The election comes amid one of Malawi’s toughest economic periods in decades. Inflation has consistently ranked among the highest in Africa, hovering above 25% since early 2024. By May 2025, it stood at 27.7%, with food inflation even higher at 31.6%.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi has revised its 2025 forecast, now expecting inflation to close at 32.4%. Growth projections were cut in February as protests over rising prices and shortages spread in major cities.

Public debt is another pressing concern, estimated at 86–88% of GDP by late 2024. Hopes for stabilisation collapsed in May 2025 when the IMF terminated its $175 million Extended Credit Facility, having disbursed only $35 million.

Credibility and institutions

After the 2019 annulment, Malawians expect nothing less than transparent and accountable elections. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has received technical support from the African Union, COMESA, and International IDEA, and at least six observer missions have been accredited.

Still, scepticism remains. In 2019, the EU Observer Mission endorsed elections that were later overturned by the courts. This has raised doubts about the effectiveness of international monitoring this year.

Campaign issues

• Inflation and Shortages: Everyday hardships, rising food costs, fuel scarcity, and stagnant wages are dominating campaign conversations.
• Corruption and Governance: The ruling MCP has been dogged by corruption scandals, while opposition figures are burdened by legacies of past misrule.
• Youth Employment: With nearly 70% of the population under 35, job creation and youth empowerment are pivotal to voter decisions.

While the race is wide open, many voters feel trapped between familiar but uninspiring choices.