Malawi: One Year On, Mutharika Says Freedom Restored but Economy Still 'A Process'

What the report says

Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika used a televised interview with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation to reflect on his first year back in office, according to Nyasa Times as republished by AllAfrica. He said returning to power after years out of government strengthened his resolve to rebuild the country and thanked voters for restoring him to the presidency. The report says he also highlighted that he is now the first person to win Malawi’s presidency three times and to secure three million votes in a single election.

Mutharika presented his agenda in two broad parts: restoring what he described as freedom and then rebuilding the economy and public services. He said he believed political intimidation had ended and pointed to food security, free secondary education and wider access to student loans as early achievements. He also defended food security as an important result, arguing that communities affected by shortages would see its value more clearly.

On the economy, Mutharika was cautious, saying it could not be fixed quickly and that recovery would take time. He said the government was making painful but necessary choices, including possible tax measures, and called for support from the private sector, civil society, religious groups, young people and women. He framed the rebuilding effort as a national task rather than one that could be delivered from outside the country.

The interview, published on 4 October 2026, offered a snapshot of how Mutharika is marking a year in office: emphasizing political stability, describing progress as partial, and warning that the economic turnaround remains ongoing.