In just two weeks, over seven million Malawians will head to the polls to elect, among others, their President. The stakes could not be higher. The numbers speak for themselves—and they keep getting scarier.
According to the World Bank, over 75 percent of Malawians live in poverty. With a population of more than 20 million, that means over 15 million people are struggling daily. This reality is worsened by soaring public debt—last estimated at K18 trillion— and a climate crisis that has left over five million Malawians hungry.
The skyrocketing cost of living, coupled with unaffordable and inaccessible public services, is a direct assault on social justice.
This year’s election is, therefore, not simply about electing a leader Malawians like. It is about choosing a leader Malawians—especially those who are living in poverty—need.
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Who will lower the cost of living?
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Who will tame the debt crisis?
Who will fight corruption with patriotism?
Who will defend the poor against exploitative and manipulative policies from the Global North?
These are the questions that matter in this election.
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Five years ago, Malawians heard campaign promises rooted in social justice. Citizens were told that life would be cheaper, jobs would be created, food would be plentiful, education would be accessible and healthcare would be well-equipped.
Today, just days before the election, many Malawians look back with feelings of betrayal, disillusionment and disenfranchisement. While corruption and poor fiscal discipline have dragged the country down, global leaders also share the blame.
Climate-induced disasters such as Tropical Cyclone Freddy and El Niño-induced dry spells are not of Malawi’s making; they are largely the result of reckless economic models in the Global North, models that continue to fuel the climate crisis.
Organisations such as ActionAid have repeatedly presented evidence exposing how the Global North has failed the Global South, including Malawi, on climate justice. Reports such as Who Owes Who?, Vicious Cycle, and Finance Flows show how countries in the Global South pay the highest price for climate damage caused by the wealthy few in the Global North.
Yet despite overwhelming evidence, the Global North continues to deny responsibility while smallholder farmers in Malawi bear the brunt.
Take Melifa Chasale, a farmer from climate-vulnerable Nsanje District. Fifteen years ago, she could harvest nearly 30 bags [weighing 50 kilogrammes each] of maize from a single acre. Today, because of climate change and soil degradation caused by chemical fertilisers, she can only manage about 10 bags. Her story reflects the wider crisis that is facing millions of people.
This situation is made worse by the Global North’s reluctance to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund, meant to support people like Melifa. Their inaction is not just negligence; it is an indictment of social justice.
Beyond the climate crisis, Malawi’s unsustainable public debt is another pressing social justice issue. At nearly K17 trillion— close to 90 percent of the nation’s GDP—debt is consuming 27 percent of the national budget in interest payments alone. This leaves vital sectors like health and education chronically underfunded.
So, what does social justice look like in this year’s election?
It means developing pro-poor policies, such as overhauling the Affordable Input Programme and investing more in agroecology, including organic fertilizer production. This would protect farmers from costly chemical fertilizers that are destroying soils and livelihoods.
It means tackling corruption and ensuring every kwacha is directed toward improving public service delivery in health and education.
It means managing public debt with fiscal discipline and resisting coercive policy prescriptions from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Above all, it means holding global leaders accountable for the climate crisis and demanding that they pay their fair share.
This election is not just about politics—it is about standing in solidarity with the 75 percent of Malawians who are living in poverty. It is about choosing leadership that delivers social justice.
