Just five years after being dramatically unseated by a court ruling, Peter Mutharika is set to return to power as the president of Malawi.
Mutharika, who held the top job from 2014 to 2020, triumphed in last week's general election, usurping his long-time rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office.
But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency.
This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics. Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.
Mutharika attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at the prestigious Yale University in the US. He went on to become a professor, building an expertise in international justice.
Mutharika pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president and he served as an adviser to the new president.
His presidency faced accusations of corruption, which he often dismissed. He was charged with treason after being implicated in a plot following his brother’s death, but charges were later dropped.
Mutharika ultimately lost his position in 2020 after a significant court ruling, and his return now raises questions about whether he can lead effectively at his advanced age as Malawi wrestles with inflation and poverty not seen since his initial tenure.
Despite the criticisms and concerns regarding his health, Mutharika's return has been met with a mixed reception, reflecting the complex political landscape of Malawi.
Mutharika, who held the top job from 2014 to 2020, triumphed in last week's general election, usurping his long-time rival, President Lazarus Chakwera.
Mutharika told voters on the campaign trail that life was simply better under him - Malawi has experienced one of its worst ever economic downturns since Chakwera took office.
But the record of 85-year-old Mutharika has its own blemishes, from corruption allegations to the debacle that ended his first presidency.
This is the fourth time he has run for office, but initially, Mutharika did not intend to go into politics. Born in 1940 in the tea-growing region of Thyolo, he was raised by two teachers and developed a love for education. I grew up in a family where my parents were educators, and myself I spent all my life in higher education, at seven universities on three continents, Mutharika commented in 2017, during an address at the UK's Oxford University.
Mutharika attended Dedza Secondary School, an institution in central Malawi known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at the prestigious Yale University in the US. He went on to become a professor, building an expertise in international justice.
Mutharika pivoted to politics in 2004, when his older brother, Bingu, became Malawi's president and he served as an adviser to the new president.
His presidency faced accusations of corruption, which he often dismissed. He was charged with treason after being implicated in a plot following his brother’s death, but charges were later dropped.
Mutharika ultimately lost his position in 2020 after a significant court ruling, and his return now raises questions about whether he can lead effectively at his advanced age as Malawi wrestles with inflation and poverty not seen since his initial tenure.
Despite the criticisms and concerns regarding his health, Mutharika's return has been met with a mixed reception, reflecting the complex political landscape of Malawi.
