Malawi’s general elections, held on 16 September 2025, determined the presidency, 229 seats in the National Assembly and 509 local councilors. There were 17 presidential candidates with two leading contenders—Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and his immediate predecessor former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Jegwa and Chibelushi 2025).