With Malawians set to vote on Tuesday, President Lazarus Chakwera is seeking a second term, but his campaign comes against the backdrop of deep economic struggles and growing public frustration, a sharp contrast to the optimism that carried him into power four years ago in a historic victory.
Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s rise to the presidency was far from ordinary.
A well regarded man of faith, he led the Malawi Assemblies of God for 24 years before stepping into frontline politics in 2013.
His first attempt at the presidency in 2014 ended in a contested defeat to Peter Mutharika.
Instead of escalating tensions, he conceded and went on to serve as Leader of Opposition, showcasing political maturity.
The disputed 2019 election, however, changed the trajectory of his political career.
Though initially declared the loser amid clear evidence of electoral fraud, Chakwera challenged the results.In a historic ruling, the Constitutional Court annulled the election, citing “massive, serious, and widespread irregularities.”
His triumph in the court mandated fresh election of June 2020 made him Malawi’s sixth president,and marked the first time in Africa’s history that a flawed election was overturned through judicial action, leading to a new democratic mandate.
