Success Story
Citizen Observation Strengthens Trust and Peaceful Transitions in Malawi’s 2025 Elections
On September 16, 2025, Malawians once again demonstrated their enduring commitment to democracy. In the country’s seventh multiparty elections since its 1993 transition, citizens cast their votes to elect a president, 229 members of parliament, and 509 local government representatives. Despite facing high inflation, fuel and energy shortages, and deep economic uncertainty, Malawians turned out determined to make their voices heard.
Seventeen candidates vied for the presidency, including the incumbent, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), and the former president, Arthur Peter Mutharika from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). According to pre-election polling supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the two emerged as frontrunners in a crowded field, setting the stage for a competitive and closely watched election.
Empowering Citizens to Safeguard Their Vote
NDI worked alongside Chisankho Watch, a nascent citizen observation coalition named after the Chichewa word for “election.” The initiative brought together civic and faith-based organizations and technology and gender experts committed to promoting transparency and peaceful participation.
NDI provided Chisankho Watch with technical and financial support to monitor key pre-election and election day processes–including voter registration, nomination of candidates, the pre-election environment, the campaign period and election preparations, helping citizens feel informed and empowered to vote. Drawing on decades of global experience, NDI engaged elections experts including from citizen observer groups from across the continent and the globe to assist Chisankho Watch in planning and executing its electoral observation activities and conducting a Process and Results Verification for Transparency methodology (PRVT)—a powerful data-driven tool that allows citizen observers to independently verify official results based on a statistically representative sample of polling stations.
Chisankho Watch's PRVT results verify that the official Malawi Electoral Commission results fall within an acceptable margin of error
Observation in Action
On election day, Chisankho Watch deployed 800 observers to every region, district and constituency of the country and set up a high-tech data center to collect their reports. Chisankho Watch issued timely public statements based on nationally representative data that showed the elections had been well-organized. Within 24 hours of the close of polls, Chisankho Watch’s parallel vote count projected a clear lead for the opposition leader, large enough to avoid a runoff election.
As official results trickled in, tensions rose. Both leading parties claimed victory prematurely, and concerns mounted that political pressure could be placed on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). The MCP further sought a review of the results with the courts. During this period of uncertainty, Chisankho Watch’s credibility became a stabilizing force. The coalition urged calm, emphasizing that its data-based findings would reflect the will of the voters. Behind the scenes, the PRVT projections informed mediation efforts by domestic and international actors, reinforcing the message that any attempt to manipulate results would be exposed.
Eight days after the polls, the MEC announced the final results, confirming Mutharika’s victory by more than 20 percentage points. The following morning, Chisankho Watch released its PRVT verification statement—confirming that the MEC’s results were consistent with the PRVT projections.
A Peaceful Concession and a Democratic Milestone
As the results were finalized, President Chakwera’s public concession speech marked a pivotal moment for Malawi’s democracy. Acknowledging the voters’ decision, he congratulated his opponent and pledged to ensure a smooth transition of power. His statement, along with Chisankho Watch's PRVT verification, reduced political tensions and set the stage for a peaceful post-election period. The MCP soon withdrew its legal challenge, underscoring confidence in the process.
At a time when many countries face growing mistrust in elections and widespread denial of results, Malawi offered a hopeful illustration of citizens empowered by data and transparency helping to protect peace and democracy.
A Bright Spot for Democracy
Malawi’s 2025 elections demonstrate how citizen observation can deter manipulation, promote peace, and reaffirm faith in democracy. When citizens organize, verify, and speak with one credible voice, they help ensure that power truly flows from the ballot box—not from behind closed doors.
Through partnerships like this, NDI continues to help people around the world defend their right to choose their leaders freely, peacefully, and transparently — the foundation of every thriving democracy. NDI programs in Malawi are supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Government of Norway.
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