MALAWI GENERAL ELECTIONS 2025: The Biggest Winner; Peaceful Transfer Of Power

The Election
General elections were held in Malawi on 16 September 2025 to elect the by President, the 229 members of the National Assembly and 509 local government councillors. In this Malawi General Elections of 2025, former President, Peter Mutharika (85 years old) triumphed against the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera, (70 years old).Chakwera conceded defeat well before official announcement of election results. Peter Mutharika got 57% and Lazarus Chakwera votes got 33%.

President Chakwera Promises
Mr. Chakwera came to office promising to create a million jobs and eliminate government corruption, but critics say he has largely failed to live up to his ambitions. Furthermore, scandals by some of his senior government officials has tainted Chakwera's image and popularity among the electorate. Critics have accused his government of dealing with cases slowly and selectively.

“There has been too much rhetoric on the fight against corruption in Malawi, but so far we haven’t seen anything practical,” , analyst Paul Kulemeka.

“Citizens aren’t inspired by the rate at which the fight against corruption has been handled_ .” analyst Paul Kulemeka.

Malawian Economy
The dire state of the economy dominated the election, with critics accusing the president of mismanagement and indecisiveness. Since Chakwera was elected in 2020, the country has experienced economic stagnation. Costs soared in the impoverished agricultural nation, with inflation reaching 33 percent and the price of food, maize and fertiliser increasing. According to the World Bank, nearly three-quarters of Malawians live below the $3 a day poverty line. According to the World Bank’s estimates, about half the country’s population does not receive the minimum number of calories required for adequate nutrition.

Socio-Economic Hardships
Many of the country’s 22 million people struggle to afford essentials like food and utilities. Fuel shortages have led to long lines at gas stations. Youth unemployment is rife. Young Malawians have found it especially difficult to find a job, moreso, university graduates. The election has taken place against a difficult economic backdrop for many Malawians, with many facing a cost-of-living crisis and rising poverty. In a recent pastoral letter, Malawi’s Catholic bishops warned that the cost of living has become a “daily struggle for many.” An Afrobarometer survey in August of 2025 indicated that *food shortages* remain the top concern, followed by health care , corruption and inflation* .

Death in June 2025
On 10 June 2024, a plane carrying Saulos Chilima (leader of United Transformation Party - UTM) and also the then Vice President of Malawi and eight other passengers crashed in Chikangawa Forest Reserve in Mzimba District, killing all onboard. At least 41,000 people attended his state funeral. His death came at a time when there was a deterioration of alliance with President Lazarus Chakwera.This left a vacuum in both leadership and public trust. Chilima’s untimely death in a plane crash only deepened public suspicion and grief.While no evidence implicates foul play, the timing and political tensions surrounding his demise fueled conspiracy theories and eroded confidence in the Presidency of Chakwera’s moral authority.

Natural disasters
Nature conspired to add more problems for Malawi. Cyclone Freddy in 2023 killed hundreds and displaced thousands, while El Nino-induced drought has left at least 4 million Malawians facing severe food insecurity. All this created more economic and social challenges for Chakwera's administration.

Lessons For Africa
1. "Unmet expectations and "lame" excuses "

Lazarus Chakwera's election defeat is a sobering verdict on leadership, trust, and the weight of unmet expectations. His defeat to former President Arthur Peter Mutharika was not merely a swing of the electoral pendulum, it was a referendum on broken promises, unmet promises and above all, the economic pain felt in every Malawian household. For three consecutive years, Malawians endured inflation above 20%, chronic fuel shortages, and a deepening cost-of-living crisis. The administration’s sluggish response to hunger, forex scarcity, and agricultural decline had already alienated the electorate.

2.Perceived Corruption and Nepotism
The lesson is clear, corruption or perceived corruption is potentially damaging and fatal. Chakwera’s administration faced mounting accusations of corruption, nepotism, and misuse of public resources. Even loyalists within the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) criticized the leadership for taking citizens for granted and failing to uphold transparency and accountability. The perception of a government more concerned with consolidating power than serving its own people can prove politically fatal- and for President Chakwera it was.

3. Priority Should Be On Economic Justice

In as much as infrastructure projects are welcome to facilitate economic growth and development of a nation, there mean little when citizens cannot afford health, education, food or fuel.The same also applies to macroeconomic jargon. Bread-and-butter issues must remain central, and economic recovery must be felt, not just announced.

4. Danger Of Being Alienated Fre to be added

Lazarus Chakwera lost an election but won honour and respect and indeed joins the proud league of incumbents who respect not only the constitution but will of their citizens. Lazarus Chakwera was superbly exemplary, conceding defeat well before official announcement of results.That is not a weakness, but a strength.That is honourable statesmanship and its exactly what Africa needs at this moment. Save Africa spiralling down into a conflict, bloodshed or even war just because of an election result. It is indeed encouraging and refreshing to witness a peaceful transition of power in AFRICA with no drama, no crisis talks, no bullets, no blood, no repression, no rigging.

5. Leaders Come & Go, Leaders Serve & Leave.

Lazarus Chakwera lost an election but won honour and respect and indeed joins the proud league of incumbents who respect not only the constitution but will of their citizens. Lazarus Chakwera was superbly exemplary, conceding defeat well before official announcement of results.That is not a weakness, but a strength.That is honourable statesmanship and its exactly what Africa needs at this moment. Save Africa spiralling down into a conflict, bloodshed or even war just because of an election result. It is indeed encouraging and refreshing to witness a peaceful transition of power in AFRICA with no drama, no crisis talks, no bullets, no blood, no repression, no rigging.

"And The Biggest Winner In Malawi General Elections 2025; Peaceful Transfer of Power"

Headline grabbing maybe the electoral defeat of President Lazarus Chakwera or electoral victory for Peter Mutharika...but the real headline grabber, and greatest winner of Malawi General Election 2025 is the smooth transition and transfer of power. Peaceful transition and transfer of power is the most important winner in Malawi 2025 General Elections.

"It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution".

President Chakwera said in an address.
"It was clear that my rival Peter Mutharika has an insurmountable lead over me ,”

Chakwera added
"In the days that remain, I want you to know that I am committed to a peaceful transfer of power ,”

Chakwera commits.
Conclusion
Whatever the outgoing Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera accomplished or failed is now not the issue.The real issue now is about the biggest winner in Malawian 2025. Some point at the returned Peter Mutharika, offcourse ,they are correct to do so. But from an African point of view, given the tragedy of elections in Africa (for example, 9th of October 2024, Mozambican elections)- the biggest winner in Malawi's 2025 General election was or is the peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another, from one admnstration to another admnstration. Africa is exhausted with post- election violence, post election triggered conflicts and wars, with coups... its now time Africa put behind such retrogressive and unproductive tendencies. Africa should learn from this good example from a small Southern African nation of Malawi. No more post- election violence, no more post- election bloodshed, no more post- election triggered conflicts and wars, no more coups but more and more of Peaceful Transition of Power from one leader to the next leader, from one admnstration to the next admnstration.

F. Madondo (African Teacher) [email protected]