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Malawians went to the polls on Tuesday to vote in a high-stakes presidential election that has drawn widespread attention. While 17 candidates are on the ballot, political analysts say the real battle is between President Lazarus Chakwera and his predecessor, Peter Mutharika, both vying for a return to power. The two men, who also faced off in the annulled 2019 election, represent competing visions for a country struggling with economic hardship, fuel shortages, and surging inflation.
Malawians turned out early to cast their ballots, with polling centres opening at 6 a.m. and scheduled to close at 4 p.m. Of the more than 10 million eligible citizens, at least 7.2 million are registered to vote. See pictures of Malawians exercising their civil rights.
