As Malawi heads to the polls on 16 September, the country’s youth – who make up most of the population – are confronting a familiar dilemma: choosing among presidential candidates whose political legacies are steeped in economic hardship.
With the economy in crisis and public trust eroding, the upcoming general election is shaping up to be a referendum not just on leadership but on the future of a youthful and restless nation.
Malawi’s economy is the defining issue of the 2025 presidential race.
The country remains reeling from the El Niño-induced drought of 2024, which devastated agriculture-dependent livelihoods and deepened food insecurity.
Inflation has hovered near 30 percent, fuel shortages have crippled mobility and nearly three-quarters of the population live in extreme poverty, according to the World Bank.
President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, of the Malawi Congress Party, is seeking a second term amid mounting criticism over economic mismanagement.
His administration, which came to power after the annulled 2019 elections, has struggled to deliver on promises of reform and growth.
Chakwera’s campaign now hinges on pledges to create jobs through manufacturing and boosting exports, with designated industrial zones in Lilongwe and Blantyre aimed at attracting investors.
Chakwera faces stiff competition from two former presidents: Peter Mutharika, 85, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and Joyce Banda, 74, of the People’s Party (PP).
Both are seasoned politicians with executive experience, but their tenures were marred by economic instability and corruption scandals.
Banda has proposed a “Cash for Work” initiative to provide daily wages for rural development projects, alongside ambitious plans to build one million homes for vulnerable populations and distribute maize to combat hunger.
Her manifesto also includes reforms in agriculture, education, health and mining.
Mutharika’s DPP is exploring electoral alliances to broaden its support base.
The party’s recent appointment of former Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Jane Ansah as Mutharika’s running mate has been hailed as a nod to gender inclusion in governance.
A younger contender, Dalitso Kabambe, 51, former central bank governor and candidate for the United Transformation Movement (UTM), offers a generational shift yet his campaign has struggled to gain traction against the entrenched political heavyweights.
With a median age of just 17.8 years and over half the population under 35, Malawi is one of Africa’s youngest nations.
Youth turnout could be decisive – 54 percent of registered voters in the 2019 election were under 35.
However, many young Malawians have expressed frustration over the lack of fresh leadership and meaningful change.
At a recent rally, popular rapper Fredokiss – real name Fredo Penjani Kalua – urged youth to vote despite their disenchantment.
“Young people have the numbers; we have the voice. We are the ones who will choose the next president – whether we like them or not – and the next MPs and councillors,” the
rapper-turned-politician told reporters on the sidelines of a recent UTM rally.
His message resonated in a country where joblessness and poverty have fuelled rising crime and social unrest.
The campaign season has not been without controversy.
Banda recently accused the government of seizing her security escort vehicle without explanation, following a collision involving her convoy in Chiradzulu District.
The incident has raised concerns about political intimidation and the treatment of former heads of state.
Malawi’s 16 September election is more than a contest of personalities – it is a test of whether the country’s youthful majority can reshape its political destiny.
With old faces dominating the ballot and economic despair deepening, the stakes have never been higher.
Whether the promises of job creation, poverty alleviation and inclusive governance will translate into votes remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: Malawi’s youth are no longer just spectators – they are the swing vote in a nation at a crossroads.
JN/APA