The queue to get fuel rather than the queue to vote is what is on the mind of many Malawians as Tuesday's general election approaches.
Prolonged petrol shortages, along with regular power cuts, the rising cost of living, hunger, poverty, inequality, and youth unemployment, add to the tangible frustration here.
The presidential, parliamentary, and local council candidates are competing for votes against a background of cynicism about what might actually change.
In a sign that money is tight, electioneering has been somewhat muted compared to the past. This is despite the presidential race being seen as a rematch between the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera, and the man he beat in 2020, then-President Peter Mutharika.
There are 15 other candidates. But the usual colorful campaign carnival is missing. The free T-shirts usually doled out with abandon to whip up enthusiasm are more limited.
Fewer giant election billboards line the nation's main roads. Back in the snaking petrol lines, patience runs thin, which has at times led to fist fights.
Sensing the fuel shortage was becoming an election issue, Chakwera has tried to tackle it head-on. In a televised address, eight days before polls open, he acknowledged the frustration and apologized. The president then turned his fire on allegedly corrupt officials who he accused of deliberately sabotaging the oil market.
Like fuel, new job opportunities are also hard to come by. To put food on the table, young men have been selling petrol and diesel using small plastic containers at five times the official price.
In the southern town of Mangochi, they refused to be interviewed except to say, as they walked away, that preying on desperate motorists was the only way to survive.
With food costs rising at more than 30% in the past year, and wages not keeping pace, things are becoming harder to afford. The high inflation rate has been partly attributed to a shortage of foreign currency, which has forced some importers to buy US dollars on the more expensive black market. The costs have then been passed on to the consumer.
The effect of the economic troubles on young people could be particularly significant in this election, as around half of registered voters are under the age of 35. Yet the two leading presidential candidates are considerably older, Chakwera is 70 and Mutharika is 85.
Many younger voters have told the BBC that these ongoing problems have dampened enthusiasm for the elections. As one voter remarked, 'Looking at the candidates - it's really a tough choice to make because hope has been lost. We've been voting and voting but things haven't gotten better.'
Mutharika's election convoy has made several stops in the villages along the Bakili Muluzi highway, and supporters have been vocal about their desire for a return to his presidency, highlighting the stark contrast to the current economic struggles.
Chakwera has faced significant challenges during his term but seeks to assure voters of future improvements, proposing new initiatives aimed at children and long-term economic investments. Meanwhile, the discontent around issues such as fuel prices and job creation might be pivotal in determining the upcoming election's outcome.
