BLANTYRE – On Tuesday, voting commenced in Malawi’s elections, where citizens are tasked with selecting a president, members of parliament, and local officials.

President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, is running for a second term facing competition from 16 other candidates. His most formidable opponent is likely to be former President Peter Mutharika, 85.

The voting marks the first national election in the southern African nation of 21 million after the 2019 presidential vote was annulled and rerun in 2020 due to extensive election irregularities.

During that election, Mutharika, who was the incumbent and initially proclaimed the victor, had his win overturned by the courts. Chakwera emerged victorious in the subsequent election, which occurred after months of street demonstrations.

This event became only the second occurrence in Africa where a presidential election was annulled and rerun, and notably, it was the first instance where a sitting president was ousted in a rerun election.

As Tuesday’s elections unfold, Malawi grapples with an economic crisis, being one of the less affluent and underdeveloped countries in Africa, facing high inflation alongside shortages of food and fuel.

While Chakwera’s election in 2020 was greeted with a surge of public support, the national mood has changed after five hard years.

Inflation has surged from around 8% to 27% under the former theology instructor and preacher, and there are critical shortages of fuel and sugar. Long lines at gas stations have become part of everyday life.

Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and an El Niño-inspired drought in 2024 destroyed crops and worsened food insecurity. A plane crash last year killed Vice President Saulos Chilima, who was seen as a leader in waiting.

Mutharika has a long history in Malawian politics, having served in the Cabinet when his older brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, was president from 2004-2012. Peter Mutharika then served as president from 2014-2020. He is now taking another shot at leadership despite a court finding evidence of fraud in his 2019 win that was nullified, including the use of correctional fluid to change vote tally sheets.

The 2019 vote prompted a change in Malawian electoral law, and Tuesday’s elections will be decided by the 50% + 1 format, which means the winner needs to receive more than 50% of the vote.

Analysts see a strong likelihood that no one will win a majority in the first round of voting, forcing a runoff, likely between Chakwera and Mutharika.

Another former president, Joyce Banda, is also running for the top position again.

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AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa