Introduction
Former President Reclaims Malawi’s Presidency in 2025 General Elections
The 2025 General Elections in Malawi were held on 16th September 2025 and included presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. Voter turnout was high, with over 76% of the 7.2 million registered voters casting their ballots. Former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election with about 56.8% of the votes, while the sitting President, Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), received around 33%.
While the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared the elections free and fair, some irregularities were reported. One major issue was the high number of spoiled ballots, which made up 2.8% of all votes, more than twice the number recorded in the 2020 elections. The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and other opposition groups claimed there were voting irregularities in at least 13 districts, including cases of vote tampering and result manipulation. In Lilongwe, eight data clerks were arrested for allegedly changing results during data entry.
Despite these concerns, regional and international observers largely endorsed the process. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission acknowledged isolated incidents, including tensions around policing and administrative lapses, but concluded that these did not materially affect the credibility of the outcome. The 2025 General Elections in Malawi were generally conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. The MEC echoed this position, affirming that the results reflected the will of the people.
Association
Crackdown on electoral criticism in Malawi
On 19th January 2025, an activist from Karonga known as "Comrade Lytone Mangochi" was arrested by officers from the Malawi Police Service who were in civilian clothes. Around midnight, approximately 12 officers reportedly surrounded his home, entered without a warrant and took him into custody. He was first detained at Kaporo Police Station before being transferred to Mzuzu Police Station for further investigations.
The arrest followed Mangochi’s public criticism of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and its Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja over alleged electoral misconduct. He had also called for protests demanding reforms, particularly regarding the Smartmatic voting system.
On 24th January 2025, Mangochi was granted bail by the Mzuzu Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court. He faced multiple charges under the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, including four counts of offensive communication and one count of cyberstalking linked to his use of platforms like WhatsApp to allegedly harass public officials including MEC staff and government ministers.
CSOs face legal action under 2022 compliance requirements
The Non-Governmental Organisations Amendment Act of 2022 in Malawi provides the main legal framework for registering, operating and regulating NGOs. The NGO Act seeks to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery but has raised concerns about potential restrictions on NGOs’ rights and freedoms.
Under the NGO Amendment Act, all NGOs, both local and international, must register with the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) and submit key documents, including their constitution, activity plans and government ministry approvals. Operating without a valid licence is illegal and may result in deregistration, legal action, fines or restricted access to financial services.
By 31st March 2025, around 1,000 NGOs risked facing legal action for failing to obtain their 2025 operating licences, highlighting NGORA’s commitment to strict regulatory compliance. Early reports from February 2025 showed that only 167 out of 1,146 registered NGOs had valid licences, with ongoing efforts to increase compliance. By late April 2025, 350 NGOs had secured licences, though hundreds remained unlicensed.
NGORA also introduced a new requirement for international NGOs to channel at least 30% of programme funding through local NGOs, aiming to strengthen local capacity and align with the global localisation agenda.
Peaceful Assembly
Protesters attacked while holding election-related protests
On 26th June 2025, a peaceful protest organised by Citizens for Credible Elections in Lilongwe and other cities turned violent. Masked men wielding machetes, sticks and sjamboks attacked protesters demanding an independent audit of the voters’ roll and the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials - Judge Annabel Mtalimanja and Andrew Mpesi.
Sylvester Namiwa, head of the Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives and the chief organiser of the protests, was severely beaten, dragged toward a vehicle in a possible abduction attempt and was ultimately rescued when police fired tear gas. Meanwhile, protesters were injured and property was damaged, with two vehicles set alight.
Security forces, both police and the military, were present but did not intervene to protect protesters or arrest assailants, raising serious concerns about state complicity or negligence. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and international watchdogs condemned the violence and called for full investigations into the attacks and for accountability in the lead-up to the September 2025 elections.
The attack has been framed not merely as an isolated act of violence but as an intimidation tactic, potentially aimed at suppressing civic participation ahead of a closely watched electoral period.
Expression
Journalists face intimidation ahead of elections
On 30th July 2025, during a press briefing held by (now former president) Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, journalists were intimidated and heckled by MCP supporters while covering presidential candidate Chakwera’s presentation of nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). The chaos erupted when journalists asked critical questions, prompting some supporters to shout them down. One reporter, Robert Edward from Luntha Television, had to be escorted out of the auditorium by a well-wisher as supporters followed and harassed him even as Dr. Chakwera continued speaking.
MISA Malawi condemned the incident, describing it as a serious attack on press freedom and a violation of the public’s right to access credible information during the electoral period. The organisation warned that such actions intimidate the media and undermine democracy. MISA urged the MCP leadership and all political parties to hold their supporters accountable for acts of harassment and to create an enabling environment for journalists covering election activities. It further reminded politicians that “journalism is not a crime” and called for respect for media independence throughout the 2025 election period.