By Suleman Chitera
Lilongwe, Malawi – Former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has opened a commanding lead in the 2025 Malawi Presidential Elections, securing 71.2 percent of the official votes released so far by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
According to results from 24 electoral councils, Mutharika has amassed 2,954,553 votes, leaving his closest rival Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) trailing at 990,872 votes (23.9%). Dalitso Kabambe of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) has collected 204,271 votes (4.9%).
These results confirm earlier Malawi24 projections and exit polls which had already placed Mutharika ahead with support above 55 percent.
Official MEC Results So Far
Peter Mutharika (DPP): 2,954,553 (71.2%)
Lazarus Chakwera (MCP): 990,872 (23.9%)
Dalitso Kabambe (UTM): 204,271 (4.9%)
Total Valid Votes Counted: 4,149,696
District-by-District Highlights
Southern Region Stronghold
Mutharika has dominated in Thyolo (200,131 votes), Mulanje (207,596 votes), Chikwawa (187,283 votes), and Zomba Rural (213,241 votes), cementing DPP’s traditional base in the south.
Central Region Trends
In Lilongwe City, Mutharika polled 145,908 votes, ahead of Chakwera’s 102,787. However, Chakwera performed strongly in Dowa, securing 216,091 votes compared to Mutharika’s 15,906.
Northern Region Performance
The north showed a more competitive contest. In Mzimba, Mutharika won with 118,117 votes, while Chakwera managed 91,509 votes. In Rumphi, Mutharika (29,957) narrowly edged Chakwera (24,486).
What These Results Mean
The official tally so far paints a clear picture: Peter Mutharika is on course for a decisive victory, provided the trend holds as more districts are counted. His strong performance in both rural and urban constituencies highlights a broad base of support.
Meanwhile, Lazarus Chakwera faces a steep uphill battle as he lags behind in several key battleground districts. Dalitso Kabambe, though making modest gains in Blantyre City (25,572 votes) and Mzuzu City (12,782 votes), remains far behind.
Conclusion
As MEC continues releasing results from the remaining districts, all eyes are on whether Mutharika can sustain his overwhelming lead. With more than 71 percent of counted votes, momentum is firmly in his favor.
The outcome of this election is set to shape Malawi’s political and economic direction for the next five years.
