Malawi has once again gone to the polls, reaffirming its reputation as one of Africa’s most enduring democracies. In September 2025, former president Peter Mutharika returned to power after defeating Lazarus Chakwera in a peaceful transfer of power that defied global trends of democratic decline. Despite widespread poverty, inflation, and economic stagnation, Malawians continue to place their trust in the ballot box. 

In this episode, Dan Banik speaks with Happy Kayuni about why democracy endures in Malawi, how civic faith survives amid hardship, and what this resilience reveals about the future of democracy in developing countries.

Resources:

• Political Transition and Inclusive Development in Malawi: The Democratic Dividend (Open access, Edited by Dan Banik and Blessings Chinsinga)
• Happy Kayuni on X and LinkedIn

Host:

Dan Banik

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