Two former Malawian presidents launched separate campaigns Sunday to challenge President Lazarus Chakwera in the September 16 general election.
The southern African nation faces soaring inflation nearing 30 percent and a deepening economic crisis, with nearly three-quarters of its 21 million people living in extreme poverty.
In Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city, opposition leader Peter Mutharika vowed to rescue the country from political and economic hardship.
Mutharika, 85, who led the Democratic Progressive Party and served as president from 2014 to 2020, condemned the current government as oppressive.
“Today, Malawi is under oppression—hunger, poverty, and fear of the very government meant to protect us,” Mutharika told thousands of supporters.
His re-election was annulled in 2020 due to court-confirmed irregularities, fueling tensions with the ruling Malawi Congress Party. Opposition parties accuse the government of stifling dissent, following violent attacks on protests demanding electoral transparency in June.
Meanwhile, former president Joyce Banda also launched her campaign in the central town of Ntcheu, focusing on youth empowerment and job creation.
Banda, 74, Malawi’s first female president, pledged to address the passport crisis to help young people seek work abroad. She promised to support unemployed youth by providing motorcycles to promote financial independence.
Banda’s return follows years in exile after losing the 2014 election amid a corruption scandal known as “Cashgate.” At least two other candidates, including the current vice president, have joined the race against Chakwera, 70, who won 58 percent of the vote in the 2020 rerun.
Malawi’s economic crisis has sparked large protests this year, with inflation rising to 27.1 percent in June, according to national statistics. The September election looms as a critical moment for Malawi’s future amid growing public unrest and economic hardship.
