21 May 2019
Malawi votes in tripartite elections
Malawians voted for president on 21 May 2019, with President Peter Mutharika, Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima among the candidates, Reuters reported.
Court case
How Malawi's presidential election annulment unfolded
Malawi's Constitutional Court annulled Peter Mutharika's May 2019 re-election in February 2020, citing irregularities including result sheets altered with correction fluid, and the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in May 2020. Lazarus Chakwera won the fresh election in June 2020. Mutharika defeated Chakwera in September 2025 and returned to office.
21 May 2019 to 4 October 2025 · 18 dated events · 18 sources
Where it stands now · as of 1 November 2026
The court case is closed. The annulment was upheld on appeal in May 2020, Chakwera served one term after winning the rerun, and Mutharika was sworn in again on 4 October 2025 after the Electoral Commission declared him the winner of the September 2025 election.
In 30 seconds: the turning points
- 27 May 2019 Electoral Commission declares Mutharika the winner
- 31 May 2019 Chakwera and Chilima petition to nullify the result
- 8 Aug 2019 Constitutional Court begins hearing the petition
- 3 Feb 2020 Constitutional Court annuls the presidential result
- 8 May 2020 Supreme Court of Appeal upholds the annulment
- 27 Jun 2020 Chakwera declared winner
Stage
1. Election
2. Petition
3. Constitutional Court ruling
4. Supreme Court appeal
5. Fresh election
6. Final
Timeline of events
Overview · 21 May 2019 to 4 Oct 2025 · click a dot to jump
2019
27 May 2019
Turning point
Electoral Commission declares Mutharika the winner
The Malawi Electoral Commission declared Mutharika the winner with 38.57 percent, ahead of Chakwera with 35.41 percent and Chilima with 20.24 percent, Reuters reported. A court injunction obtained by the opposition after the commission received 147 reported cases of irregularities, including result sheets altered with correction fluid, had been lifted that day.
“I hereby declare Arthur Mutharika as the winner of the presidential election held on 21 May”Jane Ansah, Electoral Commission chair, The Star, Malaysia (Reuters)
31 May 2019
Turning point
Chakwera and Chilima petition to nullify the result
Chakwera said he had petitioned the High Court to nullify the presidential result, which he called daylight robbery, AP reported. Chilima also petitioned for the results to be nullified, AP said. The court had earlier rejected Chakwera's request for an injunction.
6 Aug 2019
Protest in Lilongwe turns violent
A demonstration in Lilongwe calling for electoral accountability turned violent, with shops looted and vehicles burned, and police used tear gas, Al Jazeera reported.
🇲🇼 Lilongwe
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera8 Aug 2019
Turning point
Constitutional Court begins hearing the petition
A five-judge panel began hearing the challenge brought by Chilima and Chakwera against Mutharika and the Electoral Commission, alleging fraud and altered result sheets, Al Jazeera reported. Mutharika dismissed the doubts and cited observers who called the vote free and fair.
2020
3 Feb 2020
Turning point
Constitutional Court annuls the presidential result
The High Court of Malawi, sitting as a Constitutional Court of Justices Tembo, Kamanga, Potani, Kapindu and Madise, unanimously annulled the presidential result in a 500-page judgment and ordered a fresh election within 150 days, Al Jazeera, VOA and Reuters reported. It cited correction fluid, duplicate result sheets and unsigned forms, and said the Constitution requires the winner to obtain a majority of votes cast, VOA reported. Reuters said the ruling reinstated Chilima as vice president.
“the widespread use of Tippex greatly undermined the integrity of the elections”Constitutional Court, as quoted by Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera
Feb 2020
Mutharika says he will appeal
Mutharika's spokesman said the president would appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloomberg reported. Chilima demanded the resignation of Electoral Commission chair Jane Ansah and her management team.
“a serious miscarriage of justice”Mgeme Kalilani, spokesman for Mutharika, Bloomberg (BloombergQuint)
15 Apr 2020
Supreme Court of Appeal hears the appeals
The Supreme Court of Appeal was due to begin two weeks of hearings on appeals by Mutharika and the Electoral Commission on 15 April 2020, AFP reported. Mutharika argued the judges erred in law. The commission argued the court overstepped by ordering Parliament to amend electoral laws. AFP said Mutharika had not assented to amendments that included a requirement of more than 50 percent to win.
🇲🇼 Lilongwe
Business Standard (AFP)
Business Standard (AFP)7 May 2020
Mutharika files nomination for the rerun
Mutharika filed nomination papers for the fresh election with running mate Atupele Muluzi, Al Jazeera reported.
8 May 2020
Turning point
Supreme Court of Appeal upholds the annulment
A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeals and upheld the annulment, Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda said in reading the judgment, Nyasa Times reported. The court ordered the fresh vote to use the 2019 voters roll with only 2019 candidates, and Al Jazeera reported it would be held on 2 July.
“None of the candidates obtained a majority.”Supreme Court of Appeal, as quoted by Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera
8 May 2020
Court criticises the Electoral Commission for appealing
The Supreme Court said the Electoral Commission should not have appealed because doing so showed it was taking sides, Al Jazeera reported.
“The conduct of the electoral commission left a lot to be desired.”Justice Frank Kapanda, Al Jazeera
23 Jun 2020
Fresh presidential election held
Malawians voted in the court-ordered fresh presidential election, AP reported.
27 Jun 2020
Turning point
Chakwera declared winner
The Electoral Commission declared Chakwera the winner with 58.57 percent of the vote, Al Jazeera and AP reported. Mutharika had alleged irregularities, which the commission dismissed, Al Jazeera said. He called the rerun the worst in Malawi's history but urged the country to move on peacefully, AP reported.
“My victory is a win for democracy and justice.”Lazarus Chakwera, Al Jazeera
28 Jun 2020
Chakwera sworn in
Chakwera was sworn in as Malawi's sixth president in Lilongwe and urged national reconciliation, AP reported.
“this new Malawi is a home to you, too.”Lazarus Chakwera, KSAT (Associated Press)
🇲🇼 Lilongwe
KSAT (Associated Press)
KSAT (Associated Press)· · · 63 months later
2025
16 Sep 2025
Chakwera and Mutharika meet again at the polls
Malawi held a general election on 16 September 2025, the fourth presidential contest between Mutharika and Chakwera, Reuters reported.
24 Sep 2025
Chakwera concedes
Chakwera conceded in a televised address before final results were announced, calling Mutharika the presumptive winner, AP reported. His party had earlier cited what it called serious anomalies in counting, Africanews reported.
“This outcome is a reflection of your collective will to have a change of government”Lazarus Chakwera, CFJC Today (Associated Press)
24 Sep 2025
Turning point
Electoral Commission declares Mutharika the winner
Electoral Commission chair Annabel Mtalimanja declared Mutharika the winner on the evening of 24 September with about 3 million votes, or 56.8 percent, against 1.77 million, or 33 percent, for Chakwera, Africanews and Reuters reported. Turnout was about 76 percent, Africanews said.
4 Oct 2025
Mutharika sworn in again
Mutharika, 85, was sworn in at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Reuters reported. Chakwera did not attend, but his party said he wished Mutharika success.
“We will fix this country.”Peter Mutharika, Arab News (Reuters)
🇲🇼 Blantyre
Arab News (Reuters)
Arab News (Reuters)Sources
18 records, ranked by type- 1Official record3 Feb 2020Chilima & Anor. v Mutharika & Anor. (Constitutional Reference 1 of 2019) [2020] MWHC 9High Court of Malawi (MalawiLII) · malawilii.org
- 2Official record8 May 2020Mutharika & Anor. v Chilima & Anor. (MSCA Constitutional Appeal 1 of 2020) [2020] MWSC 1Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal (MalawiLII) · malawilii.org
- 3News report28 May 2019Malawi's Mutharika narrowly wins presidential race with 38.57% of the vote (Reuters)The Star, Malaysia (Reuters) · thestar.com.my
- 4News report8 Aug 2019Malawi's top court hears presidential election result challenge Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 5News report3 Feb 2020Malawi top court annuls presidential election results Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 6News report3 Feb 2020Malawi court nullifies May presidential electionsVoice of America · voanews.com
- 7News reportFeb 2020Malawi President to appeal court's annulment of electionBloomberg (BloombergQuint) · bloombergquint.com
- 8News report15 Apr 2020Malawi court to hear president's appeal against vote re-run (AFP) Business Standard (AFP) · business-standard.com
- 9News report8 May 2020Malawi court rejects president's appeal against poll annulment Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 10News report8 May 2020Malawi Supreme Court dismisses MEC, Mutharika appeal: fresh elections onNyasa Times · nyasatimes.com
- 11News report27 Jun 2020Malawi presidential election: Lazarus Chakwera declared winner Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 12News report28 Jun 2020Lazarus Chakwera inaugurated as Malawi's new president (AP) KSAT (Associated Press) · ksat.com
- 13News report24 Sep 2025Malawi President Chakwera concedes defeat in election, with former leader on course for victory (AP)CFJC Today (Associated Press) · cfjctoday.com
- 14News report24 Sep 2025Mutharika wins with 57% as Chakwera concedes with 33% in Malawi election
Africanews · africanews.com - 15News report4 Oct 2025Mutharika sworn in for second term as Malawi's president (Reuters) Arab News (Reuters) · arabnews.pk
- 16News report31 May 2019Malawi opposition leader petitions to nullify vote results (AP)
Fox News (Associated Press) · foxnews.com - 17News report4 Feb 2020Malawi court annuls President Mutharika's 2019 election victory (Reuters)Yahoo News (Reuters) · sg.news.yahoo.com
- 18News report24 Sep 2025Malawi re-elects Mutharika after five years of economic crisis under Chakwera (Reuters)ThePrint (Reuters) · theprint.in
Last updated 1 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.