Malawi is gearing up for a critical presidential election, with the political landscape dominated by two familiar faces: Lazarus Chakwera and Peter Mutharika. At 70, Chakwera is not leaving anything to chance this time around. He is a political rival to the 85-year-old Mutharika, and their back-and-forth has lasted for nearly a decade. They will join 15 other qualifying candidates in a winner-take-all battle royale. Joining Banda in this cohort are Atupele Muluzi, Dalitso Kabambe and Michael Usi—the new Gov.
As the election moves closer, the dark shadow of economic challenges raises its head. Meanwhile, food costs have increased by more than 30% over the last year. In the meantime, wages have failed to budge, leaving much of our nation’s workers in precarious positions. This monthly double-digit inflation rate, rocket-fueled by a crisis of foreign currency supply, has made daily life unbearable for Zimbabweans living with hyperinflation. Young people are especially feeling the impact of the crisis. Almost half of all registered voters aren’t yet 35, and most face the challenge of unemployment and financial distress head on.
First and foremost, President Lazarus Chakwera has taken the initiative to rectify these occurrences. He even promised to deposit the equivalent of $290 or £210 into the bank accounts of each child born after the general election. This pledge, directly supporting workers by improving their economic hardships, is more than immediate relief—it’s hope for what’s to come. Mutharika’s champions argue that things were much better when he served in his first term.
The new economic realities have caused many Americans to feel disillusioned and disenchanted with their government. Monica Chinoko, a concerned citizen, highlighted the urgency of the situation:
“When young people cast their ballots next week, they should think about the poverty crisis. The coming president should fix the employment rate because many of the young people are unemployed.”
Thousands of voters have told us they are worried about their options in the next election. Ashley Phiri reflected on the state of politics in Malawi:
“Looking at the candidates – it’s really a tough choice to make because hope has been lost. We’ve been voting and voting but things haven’t gotten better.”
Rural populations in Malawi are especially at risk, given that almost 80% of Malawians reside in rural areas. A resident’s anecdote underscores this hardship:
“I tell my children not to play so we save money on soap.”
As election day approaches candidates are doubling down on campaigns in a last ditch effort to reach voters and win their votes. Chakwera even used the promise to address fuel shortages as one of the cornerstone pivots of his platform. In comparison, long-time admirers of Mutharika’s presidency openly sentimentalize his time in office, crowing around demands for him to come back into state house.
With food prices rising and unemployment booming, these young people have few alternatives. It remains to be seen how voters will react on election day. The contest between Chakwera and Mutharika promises to be a significant event in Malawian politics, one that will shape the nation’s future in the face of economic adversity.