Peter Mutharika's Surprising Political Comeback in Malawi

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:13:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Just five years after losing power, former Malawian President Peter Mutharika is on track to reclaim his presidency. As the country faces economic challenges and rampant inflation, Mutharika promises a return to better times.

Peter Mutharika, who served as president of Malawi from 2014 to 2020, has made a surprising return to the political scene by winning the recent general elections against President Lazarus Chakwera. Riding on the promise of restoring stability and addressing economic turmoil, Mutharika's comeback raises questions about his capability amid speculations regarding his health at age 85.

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, seems to have 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.

I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.

Mutharika eventually pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president.

Since Mutharika left office, inflation has soared past 30%. Cyclone Freddy, a punishing drought, dwindling foreign reserves and other factors have pushed many Malawians into extreme poverty.

During campaign speeches this year, Mutharika reached out to voters with questions about their suffering and their desire for his return, saying, Munandisowa eti? Mwakhaula eti? (You miss me right? You have suffered, right?)

Despite being less visible than Chakwera during the campaign, Mutharika's appeal remained strong. He even triumphed in areas known to be Chakwera strongholds, such as the capital, Lilongwe.

While his political career has been eventful, Mutharika's personal life is relatively quiet. He has three children from his first wife Christophine, who died in 1990, and married former DPP parliamentarian Gertrude Maseko in 2014.

As Mutharika prepares for another term, Malawians will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on his promises to restore the nation amid its challenges.