Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as President of Malawi, after taking his oath of office on Sunday.
He was declared winner of the country’s rerun presidential vote on Saturday by the electoral commission.
Chakwera defeated the incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in the re-run election.
Mutharika’s victory in the May 2019 election was annulled by the constitutional court citing vote tampering.
Chakwera was backed by other opposition parties with his vice president being Mutharika’s previous vice, Saulos Chilima.
Chakwera contested and lost the 2014 presidential elections, garnering 27.8% of the votes cast against president Mutharika’s 36.4%.
Dr. @LAZARUSCHAKWERA and @SKChilima taking Oath of Office as President and Vice President of the Republic of #Malawi #PresidentialSwearingIn pic.twitter.com/wkAknIi5ee
— Malawi Government (@MalawiGovt) June 28, 2020
Until he contested last year’s election he was the leader of opposition Malawi’s parliament, and president of of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) since 2013.
In his acceptance speech, he promised to serve the people and not rule over them.
“The time is up for us to stop dreaming. With your help, we’ll restore your faith by being a government that stands for the need of Malawians,” the new president said.
Chakwera said “I know there are many of you who didn’t vote me and the prospect of my presidency give you fear, I want you know that my administration will strive to give equal opportunities for all of us together.”
Source: Africafeeds.com
