By The Forum

Two more presidential hopefuls in Malawi’s September 16, 2025 general elections — Smart Swira and Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo — have conceded defeat, bringing to three the number of candidates who have bowed out of the race. Independent candidate Phunziro Mvula was the first to concede earlier this week.

Swira, also an independent, and Mwenifumbo, who represented the National Development Party (NDP), both performed poorly according to unofficial results and admitted they saw no viable path to victory.

Swira urged other contenders with no realistic chance of winning to follow their example.

Unofficial tallies show former president Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leading incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

This year’s election is among the most hotly contested in Malawi’s history, featuring 17 presidential candidates, including Chakwera, Mutharika, Vice President Michael Usi of the OZAM party, and former president Joyce Banda of the People’s Party.

In addition, 1,474 parliamentary candidates competed across 15,148 polling stations nationwide.