Malawi witnessed a significant political development on Wednesday as President Lazarus Chakwera officially conceded the election. This paves the way for the dramatic return to power of Peter Mutharika, the very rival Chakwera had ousted five years prior in a historic rerun of an election that was initially annulled due to widespread irregularities.
Chakwera’s announcement to the nation came ahead of the Malawi Electoral Commission’s official release of last week’s presidential election results. Subsequent to his televised address, the commission confirmed Mutharika’s decisive victory, with nearly 57% of the votes, leaving Chakwera with approximately 33%.
In his televised address, President Chakwera emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles, stating, “It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution.” While acknowledging reports of voting irregularities and calling for a comprehensive review by election officials, he affirmed his unwavering commitment to ensuring a peaceful and smooth transfer of power.
Chakwera’s swift concession is expected to prevent a recurrence of the political turmoil that followed the 2019 election. That year, Mutharika was initially declared the winner, only for Malawi’s highest court to annul the results due to extensive irregularities — a landmark decision. The subsequent rerun saw Mutharika defeated by Chakwera, an outcome celebrated as a significant democratic triumph in a region where incumbents frequently manipulate elections to retain power.
Following last week’s election, Chakwera and his party had initially sought legal intervention to halt the Electoral Commission from releasing the results until all reported irregularities were thoroughly addressed. However, the court ultimately ruled in favor of the commission, allowing the announcement of results to proceed.
On Wednesday, the 70-year-old Chakwera publicly accepted the court’s decision, acknowledging that while anomalies were reported, they would not fundamentally change the election’s outcome in Mutharika’s favor.
Peter Mutharika, an 85-year-old former law professor with a Yale education, faced a first term shadowed by significant corruption allegations. Political observers suggest that his renewed support from voters stems primarily from President Chakwera’s failure to stabilize a severely struggling economy, which has left many Malawians unable to afford essential necessities.