LILONGWE – Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has conceded defeat in this month’s presidential election to his rival Peter Mutharika, in the impoverished Southern African nation, battered by soaring costs and severe fuel shortages.
“It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,” Chakwera, 70, said in a televised address on Wednesday.
“I have therefore conceded defeat and I have called President-elect Arthur Peter Mutharika to congratulate and wish him well on his victory,” he said.
Chakwera stated that his successor, who is also his predecessor Mutharika has taken an “insurmountable” lead, and he has phoned him to congratulate him. Mutharika governed Malawi from 2014 to 2020, when he lost to Chakwera.
He commended the Malawi Electoral Commission for being transparent in the management of the electoral process. “This level of professionalism has to be maintained for the sake of our democracy.”
Chakwera, a former evangelical pastor, appealed for calm among his supporters after the poll results were announced. The official results are set to be published in the afternoon.
On Tuesday, 7 million eligible Malawians went to the polls to elect a new president, members of parliament, and councilors to govern the country for the next five years.