Malawi’s 85-year-old ex-leader returns to power in presidential election

Democratic Progressive party candidate Peter Mutharika, who was Malawi’s president from 2014 to 2020, will return as head of state after defeating incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in the country’s election, held last Tuesday Photograph: EPA

Malawians have voted in an 85-year-old former leader over an incumbent who presided over a multi-year economic crisis, high inflation, essential goods shortages, climate disasters and international aid cuts.

Peter Mutharika got 56.8% of the vote compared with 33% for Lazarus Chakwera, according to official results of the 16 September presidential election announced on Wednesday.