Just five years after being dramatically unseated by a court ruling, Peter Mutharika is set to return to power as the president of Malawi. Mutharika, who held the top job from 2014 to 2020, triumphed in last week's general election, usurping his long-time rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office.
But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency. This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics.
Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. He attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at Yale University in the US.
Mutharika eventually pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president. Mutharika returned home to serve as an adviser and in 2009, he was elected as an MP for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Tensions emerged in 2010 amid reports that Bingu planned to name his brother as the DPP's presidential candidate for the 2014 elections. However, plans changed abruptly in April 2012 when Bingu died of a cardiac arrest.
A power struggle ensued, ultimately leading to Joyce Banda becoming Malawi's first female president. Mutharika was charged with treason during this time but dismissed the charges as politically motivated. He was later elected president in 2014, focusing on infrastructure improvements and reducing inflation.
Mutharika's first term also witnessed significant challenges, including corruption scandals. He was accused of receiving a kickback from a government contract, though he was cleared of wrongdoing upon leaving office.
After losing to Chakwera in 2020, Mutharika’s surprise return to the presidential race this year was marked by his assertion that the people of Malawi needed him back. With inflation now soaring past 30%, Mutharika faces an uphill battle to fulfill his promises amid skepticism regarding his age and health.
As the elections concluded, many Malawians looked towards Mutharika, questioning if he could once again lead the nation towards prosperity after years of suffering.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office.
But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency. This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics.
Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. He attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at Yale University in the US.
Mutharika eventually pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president. Mutharika returned home to serve as an adviser and in 2009, he was elected as an MP for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Tensions emerged in 2010 amid reports that Bingu planned to name his brother as the DPP's presidential candidate for the 2014 elections. However, plans changed abruptly in April 2012 when Bingu died of a cardiac arrest.
A power struggle ensued, ultimately leading to Joyce Banda becoming Malawi's first female president. Mutharika was charged with treason during this time but dismissed the charges as politically motivated. He was later elected president in 2014, focusing on infrastructure improvements and reducing inflation.
Mutharika's first term also witnessed significant challenges, including corruption scandals. He was accused of receiving a kickback from a government contract, though he was cleared of wrongdoing upon leaving office.
After losing to Chakwera in 2020, Mutharika’s surprise return to the presidential race this year was marked by his assertion that the people of Malawi needed him back. With inflation now soaring past 30%, Mutharika faces an uphill battle to fulfill his promises amid skepticism regarding his age and health.
As the elections concluded, many Malawians looked towards Mutharika, questioning if he could once again lead the nation towards prosperity after years of suffering.
