Just five years after being dramatically unseated by a court ruling, Peter Mutharika is set to return to power as the president of Malawi. Mutharika, who held the top job from 2014 to 2020, triumphed in last week's general election, usurping his long-time rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office. But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency.
This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics. Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.
He attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at the prestigious Yale University in the US, later becoming a professor and spending decades away teaching in various countries.
Mutharika pivoted to politics in 2004 after his brother Bingu became president, serving in multiple ministerial roles. Tensions arose amid succession plans for the presidency, but after Bingu's death in 2012, a contentious power struggle ensued that led to Mutharika being charged with treason, which was later dropped as he was subsequently elected president in 2014.
His first tenure saw economic growth alongside issues such as blackouts and corruption scandals. Accused of receiving kickbacks, he managed to fend off significant backlash during his first term. However, his 2019 bid for re-election was mired in controversy, with courts ruling against him due to electoral fraud.
Now, as he assumes the presidency once more, Mutharika faces significant challenges. Economic conditions have worsened, with inflation surpassing 30%. His campaign strategy, while successful, raises concerns about his health and ability to lead at his advanced age.
With his return celebrated by his supporters, all eyes are now on how he will tackle the daunting issues facing Malawi and if he can indeed take the country back to better times.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office. But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency.
This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics. Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.
He attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at the prestigious Yale University in the US, later becoming a professor and spending decades away teaching in various countries.
Mutharika pivoted to politics in 2004 after his brother Bingu became president, serving in multiple ministerial roles. Tensions arose amid succession plans for the presidency, but after Bingu's death in 2012, a contentious power struggle ensued that led to Mutharika being charged with treason, which was later dropped as he was subsequently elected president in 2014.
His first tenure saw economic growth alongside issues such as blackouts and corruption scandals. Accused of receiving kickbacks, he managed to fend off significant backlash during his first term. However, his 2019 bid for re-election was mired in controversy, with courts ruling against him due to electoral fraud.
Now, as he assumes the presidency once more, Mutharika faces significant challenges. Economic conditions have worsened, with inflation surpassing 30%. His campaign strategy, while successful, raises concerns about his health and ability to lead at his advanced age.
With his return celebrated by his supporters, all eyes are now on how he will tackle the daunting issues facing Malawi and if he can indeed take the country back to better times.
