As the campaign for Malawi’s September 16 General Election reaches its peak, candidates are intensifying efforts to win over the country’s 7.2 million registered voters.

With a record-breaking 17 presidential candidates on the ballot, voters have plenty of manifestos to choose from — each promising a better and more prosperous future for Malawi’s 21 million citizens.

However, a closer analysis of the manifestos from the three major contenders — the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and UTM — reveals a common trend: ambitious, high-cost promises that raise questions about economic feasibility, given Malawi’s fragile financial state.

Big Promises, Big Price Tags

The manifestos are long on promises and heavy on spending. As the September 16 election nears, voters are becoming more acquainted with the candidates.

Thanks to an official campaign season launched by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on July 14, the candidates are more present on the ground.

While all 17 presidential hopefuls are actively campaigning, utilizing every available platform to share their visions, the promises made often appear more idealistic than practical.

Malawi’s political history suggests that such manifestos are frequently used more as tools of persuasion than realistic plans for national development.

This year appears no different.

Across the board, the major parties are presenting pledges that may sound appealing—but are financially staggering.

MCP’s Ambitious Agenda

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the MCP is seeking a second term. His first term has delivered mixed results, depending on one’s viewpoint—some promises were met, while many remained unfulfilled.

For this election, the MCP has doubled down with even bolder, costlier proposals.

The party’s manifesto outlines a plan to create a new generation of multimillionaires by selecting 10,000 individuals (across all 229 constituencies) and giving each of them a K10 million loan.

Additionally, the MCP promises to eradicate poverty for future generations by opening a “Tsogolo Account” for every newborn, seeded with a one-time K500,000 deposit that will be invested until the child turns 18.

With approximately 500,000 babies born annually, this policy alone would cost the government K250 billion per year. Over five years, the K10 million loan scheme would cost an additional K100 billion.

Despite the enormity of these figures, MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila insists they are achievable.

“In Dr. Chakwera’s second term, we want to scale up what we’ve already started, empowering the youth to become the true engines of this economy,” she said.

DPP’s Costly Comeback

The DPP, led by former president Peter Mutharika, is attempting a comeback. The DPP’s manifesto, like the MCP’s, contains several high-cost pledges.

Among them is a plan to allocate K5 billion per constituency for development projects. With 229 constituencies, this would translate to K1.145tn annually.

The party also promises to introduce free secondary school education. However, many observers note that since the implementation of free primary education in 1994, Malawi’s education quality has deteriorated, due to poor infrastructure, underfunding, and low teacher pay.

These problems also persisted during Mutharika’s previous term, but DPP spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba remains confident in the party’s intentions:

“His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is not returning to power for personal gain. He wants to wipe away Malawians’ tears—to put food on the table and stabilize the economy,” Namalomba said.

UTM’s Bold Vision

The UTM, led by Dalitso Kabambe, has also rolled out an ambitious financial blueprint. The party plans to allocate K100 billion to each district council, aiming to reduce development inequalities. With 28 districts, this proposal would total K2.8tn.

Additionally, UTM promises to invest K500 billion across four key sectors: agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and a yet-to-be-specified fourth sector.

Party publicist Felix Njawala defended the scale of the proposals:

“The issue right now is that funds are allocated just for consumption. We in UTM say: let’s invest that money instead.”

Experts Viewpoint

Despite these grand promises, analysts warn that none of the major contenders are being transparent about the economic consequences of their proposals.

According to Mavuto Bamusi, spokesperson for the Political Science Association of Malawi, reckless implementation could seriously increase the country’s public debt.

“If the winning party implements these promises without restraint, we could see a government forced to borrow excessively—deepening public debt,” Bamusi cautioned.

Bertha Phiri, Executive Director of the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), echoed similar concerns. She warned that under current economic conditions — marked by high inflation and low growth — these pledges are not only unrealistic but potentially harmful.

“Economic growth projections are poor. These promises are not grounded in reality. They signal more social spending, but not real development,” she said.

Voices from the Plebeians

Voters are responding.

Interviews with voters from Mzimba, Mchinji, and Chikwawa suggest skepticism is widespread.

“The promise of K500,000 for every newborn? That’s not realistic. Leaders should consult before making such promises,” said Leonard Zangati from Chikwawa.

“K100 billion per district? That seems impossible unless they redirect funds from elsewhere,” said Rosemary Kwinika from Mzimba.

“DPP’s K5 billion per constituency? That’s a tall order. Political parties need to offer realistic promises,” added Andrew Chiphwanya from Mchinji.

The Malawi Council of Churches has also raised red flags. General Secretary Rev. Chikondi Alemekezeke Phiri criticized the manifestos as "empty promises dressed in appealing language", and accused political parties of manipulating voters.

“It’s the same old rhetoric—promising to give this and that. But no party has offered real strategies to control spending or grow the economy,” he noted.

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri recently also took to Facebook to advise politicians to refrain from misleading Malawians with unrealistic pledges.

He urged greater transparency and honesty, calling on leaders to only promise what they can truly deliver.

Amidst Battle of Words, Facts Still Matter

As the campaign clock winds down, Malawians are faced with glossy manifestos filled with grand visions, but few clear roadmaps for how these promises will be funded or sustained.

With the country already grappling with a weak economy, ballooning public debt, and high inflation, the pledges made by the leading parties raise serious concerns. Experts warn that without fiscal discipline and realistic planning, whichever party forms the next government risks deepening Malawi’s economic woes rather than alleviating them.

While political ambition is expected during elections, it should not come at the cost of credibility. The electorate deserves transparency, not theatrics.

Promises may win votes, but only tangible, economically sound policies will drive real change. If past patterns are anything to go by, Malawians must remain vigilant — scrutinizing not just what is being promised, but whether it's even possible. The future of the nation hinges not on how loud the promises are, but on how truthful and achievable they prove to be.