Voters choose the next president as a cost of life

The Malawi people vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections, after a stormy five years, which has an economic crisis that is deteriorating in the South African country.

President Lazar Chakver is fighting for a second term, his main competitor – Peter Mutarik, eight years who previously held the position.

In the cities, agitation was marred by a shortage of fuel, which led to long, unpleasant queues at gasoline stations. The rise in the cost of life also causes the main problem of voters.

The president’s results will take place in the election on Tuesday if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

7.2 million registered voters will take part in three elections as soon as polling stations opens at 04:00 GMT:

• President – There are 17 candidates to choose from
• Parliament – 229 deputies in constituency will be elected
• Local – 509 Council positions.

Among 17 hopes there are two clear runs.

Chakver and Mutarik will deal with each other in the election for the fourth time – though for the third time it turned out without counting.

Mutarik first won Chakver in 2014, but when he was announced the winner of Chakver in the next 2019 election, the result was canceled. The next year, Chakver won a repeat.

Lazarus, Congress Malawi (MCP)

Chakver, a former teacher of theology and preacher, had no political experience when he became the leader of the ICP in 2013.

When he ran with the president in 2014, he was unsuccessful, but in 2020 he won, In this unprecedented re -launch beat the existing mutar.

Chakver’s time was marred by economic upheaval and corruption allegations. The 70-year-old guy, however, first introduced train services in Malawi for three decades. He also overseeing large road construction across the country.

Peter Mutarik – Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

Mutarik, 85-year-old former teacher and law, managed Malawi from 2014 to 2020.

He is the brother of the late President Bing -Vu Mutarik, who died in 2012.

Like Chakver, the mutar is also burdened with corruption and relations with economic crises. However, his supporters claim that the current high inflation (about 27%) is proof that Mutarik has ruled the economy better than its successor.

The age of the mutar can count on its elections – the assumptions about his health are saturated, especially since it was rarely seen in public during the campaign.

Other contenders who attract attention were the former president Joyce Banda (People’s Party), current vice president Michael all (Hagens have no crime) and the former governor of the reserve bank Blessing (UTM).

Economy

Malawi has long been one of the poorest countries in the world but The last few years have been particularly kings.

The country was devastated by Freddie Cyclone It killed hundreds of people in 2023, then drought swept through South Africa next year. Food prices flew out of insufficient sowing, pushing many Molivians to extraordinary poverty.

Economists also raised modern problems with Malawi inflation, partly to the lack of foreign currency – known as “forex” – in banks.

Also, Malawi was forced to devalue your currency And recently it was crippled by a deficiency of fuel and nationwide electricity shutdowns.

Corruption

When Chakver came to power, he promised to “clear the rubble corruption”, which had long suffered the Molivian politician. His administration states that she has succeeded in this field, but critics – including influential Catholic Church – say it is not.

Skepticism was caused last year, when the director of the state persecution refused to charge of corruption against high -profile figures.

In addition, the Bureau for Anti -Corruption (ACB) remains without a director, as former boss Marta Chizuma left more than a year ago.

For someone, failure to comply with a new head is actively hindering the fight against corruption.

Previous administrations were also charged with vaccination. Eg ACB Accused the mutar of receiving the answers from the contract To supply food to the police – he denied any violations.

The gang reputation was honored with a scandal, called “CashGate”, which took place under its hours. It was cleaned by the AKB of any violations.

The death of the former vice president

Last June Vice President Saulos Chileim died in a plane crash. The popular youth, Chileim, headed the UTM party and could become a key contender in the upcoming election, especially since he fell with the president.

Despite the fact that two investigations – one conducted by the German aviation agency, and the other, appointed by the Malawi government, did not find evidence of obscene game, some Malawi remain suspicious of the authorities.

Opposition parties incite this skepticism during their companies, referring to the Chakver Party as a “chican party” (a chican forest, which is the plane crash).

Malawi was guided by the ICP from Independence in 1964 to the country’s first multi -party poll in 1994.

Since the transition from a one -party state, the United Democratic Front, DPP, People’s Party and MCP have enjoyed the authorities.

Chakver’s victory from the ICP in 2020 became one of the most significant points in the country’s political history.

The general election was held last year, and the mutar was announced by the winner.

However, The Constitutional Court canceled the electionSpeaking that falsification is widespread, including the use of Tipp-EX fluid correction on the results.

The judges were ordered to re -launch 2020 and the Chakver won, and 59% of the vote after the unification with Chilima.

Despite the fact that Mutarik called re -launch “unacceptable”, the Constitutional Court received international recognition for the protection of democracy and refusal to influence the presidential power.

After the 2019 election dispute, Malawi implemented a new system where the candidate must receive more than 50% of the total vote in order to win the presidency in the first round.

There is a high probability that this year’s candidates do not reach the threshold, that is, to hold elections.

MCP and DPP will probably try to lead the smaller sides to provide most in the second round.

The election commission arises by the end of September 24 to announce the results of the president before the Tuesday and the end of September 30 for the parliamentary elections.

The counting should start at polling stations as soon as the vote is over at 14:00 GMT.

After the 2019 voting, the court’s actions were given to some Malawi faith in the election process.

However, in recent months, the organization by number or civil society and opposition parties have accused the election commission of returning to SMEs, claiming that its top leadership has a connection with the governing party. The commission firmly denied being biased.

A protest in June, calling for the resignation of top officials, was attacked by men who possess Mashet, which led to the concern of freedom of expression ahead of the election.

The attack was not an isolated incident – there were numerous reports of politically motivated violence ahead of the general election.