Malawi Prepares For September 2025 Elections Amid Economic Challenges

Malawi is preparing for its general elections scheduled for September 16, 2025, amid significant economic challenges including inflation, currency shortages, and the impact of natural disasters such as Cyclone Freddy and droughts. Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera is seeking a second term, facing a crowded field of 16 opposition candidates including former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda, with the economy being the dominant issue for voters. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission has been deployed to ensure a transparent, credible, and peaceful electoral process, emphasizing the importance of full voter participation and learning from the 2019 elections that were annulled due to irregularities. The Malawi Electoral Commission has received all ballot papers and is following strict security and transparency measures ahead of the vote, with political parties and observers involved in oversight. Opposition parties have welcomed the preparedness efforts, urging continued transparency throughout the electoral process and peaceful participation on election day. Humanitarian groups have also called for fairness to avoid a repeat of past electoral disputes.