Malawi’s Election Under Economic Siege: Can Democracy Survive Amid Crisis and Corruption?

Malawi, a nation already struggling under the weight of economic turmoil, stands at a crossroads with its national election set against a backdrop of fuel shortages, soaring inflation, and persistent questions about electoral integrity. This election is no ordinary contest; it follows the unprecedented annulment of the 2019 presidential vote due to rampant irregularities that forced a rerun—a rare legal corrective move in African politics that removed an incumbent president.Is Malawi’s Democracy Truly Free—or Trapped in Political Repetition?The main contenders remain Lazarus Chakwera—the current president—and former president Peter Mutharika, whose disputed 2019 victory was undone by a court ruling after...