With just seven days before Malawians head to the polls, President Lazarus Chakwera has opened a decisive lead in the presidential race, securing 55 percent national support compared to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, who trails at 34.8 percent. The results come from the latest Shyley Kondowe Election Report released this week.
The survey, conducted between 1st and 8th September 2025, interviewed 3,664 registered voters across all 28 districts. Enumerators used face-to-face interviews with a random but gender-balanced sample of eight voters per ward, a methodology designed to capture credible national, regional, and constituency-level voter preferences.
In the Central Region, Chakwera dominates the race with 81.5 percent support, while Mutharika manages just 12 percent. The Northern Region also leans towards Chakwera, who commands 46.8 percent against Mutharika’s 30 percent. In the South, Mutharika maintains control with 63.7 percent support, but Chakwera has made notable inroads, registering 23.1 percent in what has traditionally been a DPP stronghold.
Beyond the presidential contest, the Malawi Congress Party is projected to sweep most parliamentary seats in the Centre and North, while the DPP is expected to hold much of the South. This points to a clear regional divide but one that overall favors Chakwera’s party.
With only 10.2 percent of voters still undecided, the poll suggests the 2025 race is firmly leaning in Chakwera’s favor. Analysts note, however, that the final outcome will depend on voter turnout and last-minute campaign efforts as the September 16 elections draw closer.
The findings set the stage for a dramatic showdown, with President Chakwera appearing to head into election day as the frontrunner, while Mutharika faces the challenge of narrowing the wide gap in the few days remaining.
