Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as president of Malawi after winning an election rerun. He was sworn today in Lilongwe at a ceremony that saw many of the Malawi political figures present . Former Malawi Congress Party president John Tembo was also present
Justice Andrew Nyirenda conducted the swearing in ceremony “Time has come for us to wake up and to make our dreams come true,” Mr Chakwera said in his victory speech.
He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday’s poll.
In February, Malawi’s constitutional court annulled Mr Mutharika’s victory in the May 2019 election, citing vote tampering.The country was bitterly divided in the run-up to this week’s election.Other countries in Africa have had elections annulled – it happened in Kenya in 2017 – but for the opposition candidate to then go on and win a rerun is unprecedented.
Chakwera being sworn in
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s results, Mr Mutharika said that while he found the election “unacceptable”, it was his “sincere hope that we should take this country forward instead of backwards.”
Saulos Chilima, Mr Chakwera’s running mate, was also sworn in as vice-president at a ceremony in the capital, Lilongwe.
Mr Chakwera, a Pentecostal preacher and former theology lecturer, will first have to heal a nation that has been through many months of political turmoil. In his speech Chakwera said “Fellow Malawians to stand before you as your president today is an honour,” Mr Chakwera said in a speech after being sworn in.
Former MCP leader John Tembo arriving
He vowed to unite the country and fight poverty. “Of what use is freedom from oppression if you and I are slaves to starvation? Or freedom from colonialism if you are a slave to tribalism?,” he said.
“Time has come for us to go beyond dreaming, time has come for us to wake up, to arise from slumber, and to make our dreams come true,” Mr Chakwera said.
“With your help we will restore faith in having a government that serves; not a government that rules, a government that inspires, not a government that infuriates, a government that listens, not a government that shouts but a government that fights for you and not against you,” he added.
Malawi Congress Party President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as Malawi President . The joy that he demonstrated from yesterday when MEC chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachali announced him the winner was not just the joy that he had finally made it, but it was also a reflection of the long, winding and often rough journey that he has been through to get to where he is. Twice defeated in 2014 and 2019 in elections that were fraudulent and where he was expected to win, Chakwera stood on his faith in God to keep him going knowing one day he will make it. Through the years however, Chakwera has been learning the art of Malawi politics.
Joining politics after leaving the church, Chakwera was a novice among the experienced politicians. After the loss in 2014, Chakwera had to ponder on what will be his next move. Something had to change. Through his Secretary General, he engaged the most feared strategist of all times to help him win elections, a political strategist in Dr Ken Zikhale Reeves Ng’oma. Political strategy has been the unseen hand that pushes candidates towards their victories, get the strategies wrong, then all efforts are fruitless.
Strategist Dr Ken Zikhale Ngo’ma pictured at President Chakwera inauguartion
When internal wrangles rocked MCP, at the time when the then secretary general Gustav Kaliwo, and former Speaker of Parliament, Right Hon. Richard Msowoya an others , vowed to bring Dr Chakwera down and took him to court, Chakwera did seek help from the man that knows Malawi politics from inside out Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.
Zikhale Ng’oma, a rejected stone in the party of his own formation DPP, humbly accepted to work with MCP and it didn’t take long before he started shaping the party towards a path to victory.
His first task was getting involved in the planning of a rerun in Lilongwe city south east where Ulemu Msungama brought a new phenomenon in the courts of Malawi, being the first individual to win an electoral case in challenging the incumbent member of parliament. Zikhale took a leading role in drafting strategic plans that saw people like Richard Chimwendo gain ground in mobilising the youths and regional chairperson like Soko, Chidzanja and others benefit from restructuring guidance he delivered. He organised a vibrant team which came up with a strategic plan that was adopted by the party through a management meeting where Directors agreed to take advice that the strategic plan gave.
Zikhale strength as Political strategists comes from his vast experience in the area having worked with DPP from its inception. Zikhale pushed for the repositioning of MCP moving away from a central region concentrated party to a more accommodating national wide party so that power should be distributed across the country and bury the strong story that MCP is only a Central Region Party. He also called for the drafting in of legal team of Titus Mvalo to help the party clear all the cases it was struggling with at the time.
Zikhale poignant role as Political strategists is evident by empirical evidence that sees Chancellor College of Malawi and other universities lecturers quoting him when lecturing public administration, political science and law students.
It was luck that MCP had just chosen young and brave Secretary General, Elsenhower Mkaka, who was understudying the veteran in his approach to issues, therefore he organised and worked tirelessly with the Strategist, organising resources and coming up with modalities that would make MCP after several attempts to get back to power since the founder of Malawi nation, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda had left.
MCP secretary General Mkaka
Mkaka is on record now to have been the first Secretary General to have led the party under the leadership of Dr Lazarus to have fought a fight that has seen MCP bouncing back into power.
Dr Lazarus Chakwera is known to be a great listener , very accommodating and an intelligent leader who got 7 points during his MSCE exams and was selected to Mtendere Secondary School and then Chancellor College. This wise leader allowed to share views with Zikhale the Strategist and accepted a very simple formula that Zikhale brought to the party of inclusiveness. He wanted the approach to focus more on presidential vote promoting MCP as a Party as one way of making party that is changed and flexible.
He introduced and encouraged the leadership that for the party to win they must make alliances with parties that will bring value and have proven record of performing hence made moves to convince Khumbo Kachale of Freedom Party, Dr Joyce Banda of People Party and UTM which could see all the parties affiliated to the mentioned targets also joining the wagon.
This initiative did not take long, it started but met challenges as it was met with mixed reactions from some quarters of the party that wanted Dr Lazarus Chakwera stand alone and continue with their tradition as a Central Region Party. There was also resiistance from PP and UTM leadership whose perception was that a party with a bad past records could not match with the current democratic dispensation.
Dr Lazarus Chakwera’s focused vision and that he new what he wanted, he stuck to the strategic plan and pushed for these strategic alliances. Previoulsy MCP had not been eager to work on alliances, as it was observed way back when MCP and UDF had wanted to go into an alliance and the split of MCP to form New Republican by late Gwanda Chakuamba.
Zikhale still maintained that in order to win, alliances should be the way forward and Dr Lazarus Chakwera did not hesitate but to keep on fighting until all the targeted parties were persuaded and started working together with MCP as Tonse Alliance . the parties also opted to adopt some of the flagship campaign promises from the individual parties and blend them together.
Power of strategic alliances
The other selling point was from the organised and unity the Tonse partners displayed during the court proceedings and demonstrations where some individual organisers like Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence, IT expert Sulemani, Chimwendo, Mkaka, displayed their inborn talents and won the hearts of many Malawians. It was not just efforts from an individual but of many players that made the journey fruitful.
Zikhale also organised among others a team from diaspora that specialised in countering propaganda from the the DPP and UDF teams. Comprising of Allan Mandindi, Chalo Mvula and Nic Thindwa the team tirelessly neutralised DPP efforts to paint MCP in bad light. They worked with the local strategists in Chikumbuso Mtumodzi and Humphreys Mvula, just to mention a few.
The parties organising team under an iron lady Khumbize Chiponda and a silent Chief Whip Sam Kawale played a crucial role in organising and coordinating strategic rallies that confused the ruling DPP to a point of finding excuses by hiding behind Covid 19 and executive powers to frustrate the elections. The courts ruled in favour of fresh elections and directed that the elections be held within 150 days. Former MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah, tried playing delaying tactics and focused more on Covid 19 effects to stop elections inorder to see APM clinging to power. Ansah managed to convince donors not to support the elections due to Covid 19. Jappie Mhango who is the Chair of the committee running the affairs of Covid 19, inflated figures of Covid 19 to scare people but people stood firm and wanted elections first and Covid 19 later.
Chakwera win has really cemented Zikhale Ngoma role as an icon of Malawi’s political strategy. The way Chakwera sailed through the internal fighting’s that were happening in party , the sudden energy and vibrance that was injected in the party , the new appeal that was added to the party broadening its scope from just the central region to roping in votes from the north and centres is all a testament of what good strategic decisions can make
DPP who thrived in calling themselves a “System” have been masters of not only political strategy, but their cunning execution of propaganda that was aided by malpractices during voting that helped them rig elections. Zikhale idea of roping in people in the diaspora to run a propaganda team not only confused DPP but also gave MCP an edge, as it had people who could see what was going on from a distance.
As Chakwera is now the president, it is a great time for Malawi Congress Party as they find themselves back in power after 25 years.
The Tonse alliance torch bearer Dr Lazarus Chakwera has been declared winner of the just ended presidential elections . Malawi electoral commission made the official announcement today at College of Medicine tally centre in Blantyre
In making the announcement chairperson of electoral commission said Dr Lazarus Chakwera amassed 2604 043 votes which represents 58.7% as compared to Peter Mutharika with 1751877 and Peter Kuwani with 32456
This means that Chakwera is the outright winner as its mandated that a winner need to obtain 50+1 votes.
Early this evening President Mutharika described the elections as the worst in the history of Malawi citing that they were alot of irregularities that have been ignored such as attacks on DPP monitors especially in central region.
Chakwera was beamed watching the event with his family in Lilongwe. Making a comment on the outcome Malawi Congress party Diaspora Spokesman Chalo Mvula told 247media that the results represents freedom day for all Malawians ” Chakwera win is a win for every malawi. its good that we are starting a new chapter for our country ” Mvula said .
Chakwera becomes the 6th President of Malawi. He is due to be sworn in on Sunday at Bingu stadium.
President Mutharika and his running mate Atupele Muluzi are still struggling to come to terms with the fact that Malawians haven’t voted for them . At a press conference held today at Sanjika palace Mutharika exposed how much he is in denial and out of touch after describing this years elections as the worst in history due to irregularities
President Peter Mutharika has claimed that the June 23 Fresh Presidential Elections are the worst ever elections in the history of the country. Appearing worn out and at times shaky Mutharika said the elections have been affected by irregularities such as the abduction of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) monitors. Mutharika also claimed that some tally sheets were not signed by authentic DPP monitors.
Mutharika at Sanjika today
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is expected to announce the results of the elections today but unofficial results show that opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera has won the polls.
Mutharika however , came close to conceding defeat when he called for the respect of the office of the president and urged Malawians to maintain peace after the results are announced.
“Much as I find this election unacceptable, but for the sake of peace and the love of our country, I wish to ask all Malawians to be peaceful when the results are announced. It is my sincere hope that we will unite to take this country forward instead of backwards,” said Mutharika.
Speaking after Mutharika, DPP runningmate in the elections Atupele Muluzi said the DPP expected the electoral commission to manage the elections in accordance to what he said are principles set by the Constitutional Court that nullified the 2019 Elections.
He also claimed that the June 23 elections were affected by acts of violence and that monitors of the DPP were attacked in Lilongwe, Chitipa, Dowa, Ntchisi and Nkhatabay.
Police spokesman James Kadadzera said he was not immediately aware of reports on violence and intimidation.
The electoral commission said earlier it had received complaints from the DPP on alleged violence against the party’s monitors.
Tuesday’s vote was regarded as a test of the ability of African courts to tackle ballot fraud and restrain presidential power.
The judiciary infuriated Mutharika in February by overturning the result of an election last year that had given him a second term, citing irregularities, and ordering a re-run.
If defeated in the re-run, Mutharika — in power since 2014 — could choose to either challenge the result in court or step aside.
When 2019 presidential contenders, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Dr. Saulos Chilima, took the 2019 presidential results to court, doom-mongers were all over, casting pessimism on the duo’s cause.
Controversial ‘winner’, President Professor Peter Mutharika, also joined the verbal assault against the opposition, calling them “big time losers”. Mutharika went on challenge angry protesters mobilized by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), calling their demonstrations as gainless.
“Let them demonstrate till 2024,” he mocked, to the deafening ululation of DPP supporters.
Understandably, the pessimists, including Mutharika, were motivated by the history. For Malawi’s political history has never been kind to “losing” opposition candidates in far as their quest for electoral justice is concerned.
Every time the elections were challenged in court by the dissatisfied opposition candidates, the ruling never went their way.
In 1999, the late Gwanda Chakwamba challenged the presidential results, accusing Dr. Bakili Muluzi of rigging the election in his favour. But the court upheld Muluzi’s victory.
In 2004, Chakwamba almost went to court again after another “unfathomable” ‘loss’ to Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika of United Democratic Front (UDF). Chakwamba was later appeased with a peace deal which later saw him serve in the Mutharika administration as a cabinet minister. That was the last Chakwamba was seen relevant, politically. But certainly not the last for losing candidates’ quest for electoral justice.
Outgoing President- Mutharika
After feeling short-changed by the 2009 presidential poll results, John Zenus Ungapake Tembo (JZU) went back to the court for electoral justice. But just like in 1999, the court upheld the 2009 poll results which put the late Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika as a winner with an assailable 67 percent of the total votes. And that was the last court move by JZU.
With Chakwamba and Tembo’s bad days in court, Malawians started establishing a position. Many started living with the fact that “losing” opposition political leaders would never emerge victorious against presidential results in Malawi’s courts.
So, when Dr Saulos Chilima and Dr. Lazarus Chakwera joined 2019 presidential campaign trail, assuring Malawians that no one would rig the elections this time around, some pessimists, as they did with Chakwamba and Tembo, simply poured scorn on their claims.
Nevertheless, Dr. Lazarus Chawera, JZU successor at MCP, never tired from from standing up to electoral injustice. And in 2019, he never waited for the final results to launch his challenge.
Barely two days after Malawians cast their vote, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera held An impromptu presser in Blantyre—just a few kilometres away from the main tally centre—accusing Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) of colluding with some compromised officials in twisting the figures in Arthur Peter Mutharika’s favour.
“Some evil people have stepped into the vacuum either to give you false information or to try to interfere with the process of tallying the results in a desperate and failed attempt to subvert the clear will of Malawians” he charged.
Tonse alliance launch
Dr. Chakwera wasn’t crying foul alone.
A few days later, UTM President Dr.Saulos Klaus Chilima, another hot contender in the polls, rung alarm bells, calling the presidential election a “sham”. Dr. Chilima, popularly known as SKC in political circles by his admirers, cited ‘a plethora of irregularities’ as having undermined the presential elections.
In his highly charged presser in June in Lilongwe, Dr. Chilima faulted Malawi Electoral Commission for having “dismally failed in its constitutional duty to the people of Malawi by being involved in a scheme aimed at ultimately subverting the will of the people of Malawi.”
“Some of the irregularities for which we have credible evidence and proof are failure to collect and seal away extra ballot boxes before counting and compiling results, thereby making extra ballot papers available for post-polling marking and stuffing to consummate the fraudulent results records or post-future verification against the ballot in peril.”
SKC punched his challenge against the results by calling for fresh presidential elections. A daring demand, one would say.
With that statement, SKC and Chakwera kick-started a seven month-long quest for electoral justice in Malawi’s court.
As usual, the government, led by the Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale, made several attempts aimed at discrediting the petition by the complainants. Kaphale grounded his defense on trivializing the electoral irregularies, describing as too insignificant to affect the final outcome of the presidential vote.
But the complainants legal teams for both SKC and Chakwera stood their ground. They repeatedly cited use of tippex, a correction fluid, use of fake result sheets and intimidation of monitors as serious violations of the electoral laws.
And on 3rd February 2020, the judiciary, sitting as a constitutional court, agreed to complainants’ prayers and duly nullified the elections. The court went on to order for fresh elections within the next 150 days. It was the kind of ruling that reverberated across the country’s borders.
The Financial Times of UK described the ruling as a victory for African democracy”.
“In an era when electoral integrity is under threat even in established democracies, the members of Malawi’s constitutional court stand out for their bravery. The pressure on them to rubber-stamp an election that was marred by gross irregularities—including liberal use of white correction fluid on voting tarries was enormous,” read the Financial Times’ reaction.
SKC and Chakwera quest for justice was further affirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeal which went further by interpreting the majority rule as getting 50+1 of the total votes.
A bitter and visibly defiant and reluctant Mutharika finally went back to the polls on 23rd June to seek a free, fair, credible re-election against the combined forces of MCP, UTM and other six political parties. And, somehow, Malawi’s democracy survived.
