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.
There are fewer giant election billboards on 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.
Young men in the southern town of Mangochi have been selling petrol and diesel using small plastic containers at five times the official price. 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 impact of 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 leading presidential candidates, Chakwera and Mutharika, are both considerably older, at 70 and 85, respectively.
Many younger voters have expressed that continuous problems have dampened enthusiasm for the elections. We've been voting and voting, but things haven't gotten better, said Ashley Phiri, 35.
Chakwera has faced a tough five years but remains optimistic, promising an investment in the future of the country. However, former president Joyce Banda and several others also vie for the presidency, each promising changes to improve the lives of Malawi's citizens.
With the election around the corner, Malawians hope for real change that will put more food on the table and fuel in the tank.
