Malawians cast their votes Tuesday in elections to choose a president, lawmakers and local government representatives at a time of economic turmoil in one of the world’s least-developed countries.
Voters face a choice between giving President Lazarus Chakwera, 70, a second term in office or selecting another leader to solve the southern African nation’s sky-high inflation, cost-of-living crisis and critical fuel shortages.
There are 16 other candidates standing for president in the one-day election, including 85-year-old former president Peter Mutharika, whose victory in a 2019 vote as the incumbent was nullified by a court because of widespread irregularities.
He is viewed as Chakwera’s strongest challenger in this vote.
Another former president, Joyce Banda, also is running for the top position, but analysts see the election as a race between Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party and Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party.
“The cost of living is high, and with that many problems
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