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, seems to have 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 marks 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.
He attended Dedza Secondary School, known for nurturing notable politicians, and studied law in the 1960s at the prestigious Yale University in the US.
Mutharika would eventually become a professor, specializing in international justice, while spending decades teaching at universities across the globe.
His political journey began in 2004 when his brother, Bingu, was elected president of Malawi, leading him to return home and serve in various ministerial roles.
Despite his political ascent, challenges arose amid political scandals surrounding succession plans, leading to tumultuous events in the wake of his brother's unexpected death.
Mutharika's challenging path featured prioritizing political gain while facing critical situations that led to serious allegations of corruption.
Despite these allegations, Mutharika's early presidency rehabilitated Malawi’s infrastructure, with significant loans boosting public works.
In his recent campaign, Mutharika leveraged economic discontent to regain public favor, voicing collective sentiments of nostalgia for better past governance.
Current economic turmoil, marked by soaring inflation and uncertainty, has galvanized public support, securing his win despite questions regarding his age and ability to lead amid such strain.
His return marks a pivotal moment for Malawi as many families have suffered under current economic conditions. As he steps into the presidential residence once more, citizens are eager to see if he can deliver on promises of renewal.
