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's educational journey took him to Dedza Secondary School and Yale University before he became a professor specializing in international justice, ultimately returning to Malawi to enter politics.

His political rise was marred by family dynamics, especially after the death of his brother, President Bingu Mutharika, which triggered a power struggle that led to his initial fall from grace.

Despite controversies, supporters applaud his economic efforts during his first term, with significant infrastructure investments and a reduction in inflation. However, challenges like corruption and utility shortages persisted.

The landscape has dramatically changed since Mutharika’s departure in 2020. Inflation has soared past 30%, and the nation faces dire economic circumstances exacerbated by environmental disasters.

As he assumes office once more, Mutharika's ability to navigate these complexities remains to be seen, along with whether he can fulfill the promises made to the citizens who supported his comeback.