Intelligence Brief | Malawi Sept 16 Elections: Candidates, Polls, Economy & Run-Off Scenarios
Ujasusi Blog’s Southern Africa Monitoring Team | 02 September 2025 | 0210 BST
🧭 Executive Summary
On Tuesday, 16 September 2025, the 7.2 million registered voters of Malawi will walk to 5,002 polling stations across the country’s 28 districts to cast three ballots each: one for president, one for member of parliament and one for ward councillor. The presidential contest features 17 hopefuls, but the race has crystallised into a fourth consecutive duel between incumbent Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party, MCP) and his 85-year-old predecessor Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party, DPP). The outcome will determine whether Malawi continues on Chakwera’s infrastructure-focused but inflation-plagued trajectory or reverts to the DPP’s legacy of comparatively lower consumer prices but lingering corruption scandals. The Electoral Commission has pledged to announce the presidential winner by midnight on 24 September and the final parliamentary tally by 30 September. If no candidate secures 50 % + 1 of valid votes, a run-off must be held within 30 days, placing smaller parties and independents in the role of kingmakers.
📅 Election Calendar You Cannot Afford to Miss
06:00 CAT – Polls open nationwide
18:00 CAT – Strict close of voting
19:00 CAT – Counting begins at polling stations
17 Sept – Constituency result sheets arrive at district tally centres
18-23 Sept – National tally centre in Blantyre consolidates results
24 Sept – Presidential winner proclaimed; swearing-in tentatively set for 30 Sept
30 Sept – Final parliamentary and local council results gazetted
1-15 Oct – Window for presidential run-off if triggered
16 Oct – Earliest possible date for second-round vote