Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has conceded defeat in last week’s election, acknowledging that his rival, former president Peter Mutharika, holds what he described as an “insurmountable lead.”
In a national address on Wednesday, Chakwera, 70, said he had already reached out to his opponent ahead of the official declaration of results by the electoral authority.
“A few minutes ago, I called Professor Mutharika to wish him well,” he announced. “It was clear that my rival Peter Mutharika has an insurmountable lead over me.”
Chakwera, a former pastor who rose to power in 2020 after defeating Mutharika, admitted that the outcome reflected the mood of the nation. The election, held on September 16, was dominated by frustrations over the struggling economy, widespread joblessness, and rising costs of living.
During his tenure, inflation soared to 33 per cent, while the prices of maize and fertiliser, staples in the agriculture-dependent southern African nation skyrocketed, becoming major talking points at the polls. Critics accused him of mismanagement, indecisiveness, and failure to deliver on promises of job creation or tackle entrenched corruption.
Despite the loss, Chakwera promised a smooth transition of power to the winner.
“In the days that remain, I want you to know that I am committed to a peaceful transfer of power,” he said. “I know that many of you who supported my campaign for reelection will be disappointed.”
Mutharika, a constitutional law expert and leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, is set to reclaim the presidency four years after his defeat to Chakwera.
