Mutharika on the Brink of Historic Comeback as Chakwera Faces Uphill Battle
Former President Peter Mutharika is on the verge of staging one of Malawi’s most dramatic political comebacks, as official tallies from 24 district councils place him far ahead of his closest rival, incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera.
Figures released by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) show that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) torchbearer has amassed 2,022,879 votes, compared to Chakwera’s 729,425. The numbers translate into DPP dominance in 21 of the 24 councils already declared, signaling a sweeping return of support for Mutharika.
With only 12 councils yet to be announced, the 84-year-old former Head of State needs less than 300,000 additional votes to secure the 50% + 1 majority required for an outright first-round victory. In stark contrast, President Chakwera would have to pull off a near-impossible feat—mobilizing more than 1.6 million votes from the remaining councils to overturn the DPP’s commanding lead.
Analysts Weigh In
Political commentators say the results reflect a major shift in public mood and could mark the end of the Tonse Alliance era.
“Malawians appear to have sent a strong message that the promises of transformation under President Chakwera have not materialized,” said political scientist Dr. Henry Chingaipe. “Economic stagnation, inflation, and corruption scandals have created fertile ground for Mutharika’s comeback.”
Another analyst, Dr. Boniface Dulani, observed that Mutharika’s strong performance was also fueled by the collapse of the Tonse Alliance cohesion.
“Unlike 2020 when Chakwera and his partners were united against the DPP, this time alliances fractured, weakening the incumbent’s reach,” Dulani explained.
On the streets, ordinary voters echo similar sentiments. “Life has become harder under this government,” said a Blantyre resident. “People are going back to Mutharika not because he was perfect, but because they feel the current leadership has failed to deliver.”
A Historic Moment in the Making
If the current trend holds, Mutharika will not only reclaim the presidency but also etch his name into Malawi’s political history as the first leader to bounce back to State House after an electoral defeat.
For now, the nation awaits the final tallies from the remaining councils, but the momentum appears firmly in the DPP’s corner leaving President Chakwera and his allies with an ever-narrowing path to survival.
