World News
Malawi Heads to Polls as Economic Crisis Dominates Presidential Race
Malawians headed to the polls today in a closely watched general election, with President Lazarus Chakwera facing off against his predecessor, Peter Mutharika.
The country’s worsening economic conditions marked by skyrocketing inflation and rising food prices are a central concern for voters.
Although 15 other candidates, including former president Joyce Banda, are also vying for the presidency, political analysts predict the contest will likely come down to Chakwera, 70, and Mutharika, 85. Should no candidate achieve more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be required.
“I voted for the person I believe can end hunger in Malawi. Life is hard, and I can barely provide for my four children,” said Alindiine Bellison Kazembe, a 32-year-old domestic worker from Blantyre, who was among the early voters on Tuesday morning.
Since taking office in 2020, Chakwera has struggled to revive Malawi’s economy. The country has endured a series of setbacks, including a powerful cyclone and a severe drought that destroyed crops, leaving millions food insecure. Inflation has remained above 20% for over three years, driving up the cost of living.
“The constant rise in prices is unbearable. I cast my vote hoping the next president will fix our economy,” said Mazaza Msiska, a 50-year-old resident of Ndirande, who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been unemployed since.
Voting began at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT), though some polling stations reported delays caused by faulty biometric fingerprint scanners.
“We had to temporarily switch to manual verification because some voters’ fingerprints were not being recognised. Things have since stabilised, and voting is running smoothly,” explained Wezi Winnesi, an election monitor for the opposition United Democratic Front.
Aside from choosing a president, Malawi’s 22 million citizens are also electing members of parliament and local councillors.
This election marks another showdown between Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party and Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party. Chakwera rose to power promising to clean up what he described as endemic corruption under Mutharika’s leadership.
However, critics say his administration has been slow and selective in addressing corruption cases, fuelling voter frustration with both major parties.
Russian authorities have moved to block Meta-owned WhatsApp across the country, citing the company’s failure to meet domestic legal requirements.
Officials say Meta did not establish a local office, declined to cooperate with data-sharing demands, and failed to remove content deemed unlawful.
The government has also linked the messaging platform to cases of fraud and alleged extremist activities.
Following the shutdown, many users in Russia are migrating to alternative platforms such as Telegram, VK Messenger, Yandex Messenger, and the government-supported MAX application.
Dalisto Lungu, the son of Zambia’s late former president Edgar Lungu, has been stripped of assets worth more than US$1.26 million after a ruling by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The court found that the properties were obtained through illicit means and ordered their forfeiture to the state. The seized assets include 79 motor vehicles, over 20 pieces of land located in various parts of Zambia, as well as a fuel service station.
In its judgment, the EFCC stated that Lungu failed to provide credible evidence of a lawful income or business operations that could reasonably explain his accumulation of such wealth.
Lungu disputed the allegations, insisting that the properties were legally acquired. However, the court ruled that his explanation was insufficient to counter the state’s case, paving the way for the assets to be confiscated.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has dismissed online allegations suggesting that its founder, Bill Gates, is responsible for a surge in mosquito populations in Kenya.
Responding on X, the foundation clarified that it does not run mosquito laboratories nor release mosquitoes in Nairobi or anywhere else in the country.
It emphasized that all its health-related initiatives are carried out in support of Kenya’s own priorities and strictly follow government regulations.
The statement came after claims shared by Kenyan lawyer and politician Paul Muite gained traction on social media, sparking intense public discussion.
Some posts alleged that genetically modified mosquitoes were being produced and released on a large scale, claims the foundation described as completely untrue.
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of continued concern over malaria, which remains a serious public health issue in the region.
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