Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
New Malawi leader sworn in, urges unity
BLANTYRE, Malawi — Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in as Malawi’s new president Sunday after the announcement the previous night that he had won the southern African country’s rerun election. There were nightlong celebrations in cities and towns across the country.
Chakwera is Malawi’s sixth president after winning the historic election held last week, the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has resulted in the defeat of an incumbent leader.
After a hard-fought campaign, Chakwera urged national reconciliation in his inaugural speech in the capital, Lilongwe, and spoke directly to supporters of defeated President Peter Mutharika.
“Perhaps the prospect of my presidency fills you with fear and grief. I want you to remember one thing, that this new Malawi is a home to you, too,” said Chakwera. “So long as I am its president it will be a home in which you, too, will prosper.”
Chakwera won with more than 58% of the votes cast, according to official results from the Malawi Electoral Commission.
The 65-year-old told the inaugural crowd: “It’s an honor that fills me with unspeakable joy and immense gratitude. It’s an honor forged in the furnace of your desire and your demand for change.”
Chakwera’s election came after months of street protests against the results of the election in May 2019 in which Mutharika had been declared the winner. The Constitutional Court struck down the results, citing widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on ballots.