If there is one word that captures the essence of Malawi’s 2025 electoral season, it is ‘surprise’.
The political landscape has shifted in unexpected and dramatic ways, marked by the return of seasoned figures, the emergence of new actors and a series of strategic decisions that have probably left voters and observers recalibrating their expectations.
One of the most unexpected moves came from former president and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Peter Mutharika, who has named former Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) chairperson Jane Ansah as his running mate.
The announcement has reverberated across the political spectrum, sparking debate on social media and among the wider public.
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At 85, Mutharika’s ultimate re-entry into frontline politics has raised questions about his physical stamina and political relevance, yet his supporters argue that his experience and statesmanship still hold weight in a shifting political environment.
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Ansah’s selection could be as contentious as it is surprising. She previously served as Mec chair during the disputed 2019 elections that were ultimately nullified by the Constitutional Court due to widespread irregularities.
Her tenure was marred by protests and public pressure, with many calling for her resignation.
Despite this, Mutharika has placed his trust in her, perhaps banking on her legal expertise and administrative background to bring a sense of credibility and competence to his ticket.
Within DPP, however, her appointment seems to have caused unease. Some insiders fear that her polarising image could alienate voters and widen divisions within the party.
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Others see it as a bold, if risky, move aimed at projecting a renewed image in the face of previous electoral setbacks.
This is not the first time Mutharika has defied expectations with his choice of running mate.
In 2019, he selected Everton Chimulirenji, a relatively unknown figure at the time, who went on to serve briefly as vice president before the election was nullified.
Mutharika’s decision to re-enter the race, this time alongside Ansah, appears to signal both a refusal to retreat from the national stage and a willingness to challenge political norms.
Whether this seemingly unorthodox pairing will resonate with the electorate remains uncertain, but it has undoubtedly altered the dynamic of the campaign.
Adding to the season’s unpredictability is the return of another former head of state, Joyce Banda.
After some moment of relative political silence, Banda came forward to announce that she was going to compete for the presidency.
On Thursday, she formally declared her candidacy, presenting her nomination papers to Mec with former vice president Khumbo Kachali as her running mate.
Their re-emergence revives a political partnership last seen during Malawi’s turbulent transition following the death of the then president Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012.
Banda has forged a new alliance comprising the People’s Party, the Freedom Party and the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development; perhaps, an effort to consolidate influence across regional and political lines, though it clearly looks weak.
While some critics dismiss this as a nostalgic move, Banda has positioned her campaign as forward-looking.
Her re-entry, much like Mutharika’s, in a way underscores the capacity of Malawi’s democracy to allow political reinvention.
Her candidacy must obviously compel other contenders to refine their messages and strategies, especially as assumptions of a straightforward two-horse race between the incumbent and the main opposition are quickly being dispelled.
Yet the surprises do not end there.
Two other major political figures, Dalitso Kabambe of UTM and President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), are poised to make pivotal moves that could further reshape the race.
Kabambe, a technocrat-turned-politician is said to be preparing a bold and unexpected ticket.
Whatever choice he will make could help reposition the party as a reformist force and reconnect with disillusioned urban and youth voters.
Chakwera, meanwhile, has kept the country in suspense simply by being the last to submit his nomination papers.
Insiders suggest he may also be planning a surprise by choosing a running mate from outside MCP hierarchy.
The aim, reportedly, is to find a unifying figure who could counter growing criticism over governance fatigue and internal party rifts.
If this turns out to be true, Chakwera’s decision could further reset the terms of the race.
What ties these developments together is a growing sense that the familiar rules of Malawian politics no longer apply.
The reappearance of former leaders and the emergence of new alliances suggest that candidates may be aware of a shifting electorate.
All in all, as the elections draw nigh, the field remains wide open.
Mutharika’s pairing with Ansah, JB’s renewed push for leadership and the yet-to-be-revealed strategies of Kabambe and Chakwera all point to a contest that will be defined as much by surprise as by substance.
