By Chisomo Phiri
President-elect Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has outlined economic recovery, food security, job creation, strengthening healthcare and education systems, infrastructure development, and restoring trust in public institutions as the key priorities of his new administration.
Speaking in his victory speech at his Nyambadwe private residence in Blantyre on Friday, Mutharika stressed that Malawi’s transformation agenda will be anchored on unity, discipline, and hard work.
“I have no doubt we will rise to the challenge. With unity, discipline and hard work, Malawi will move forward again. And this time, we will move forward together,” he said.
He added that his leadership will focus on prudence, inclusion, competence, and delivery.
The president-elect emphasized that the time for political competition had ended and the time for national cooperation had begun.
“The time for competition has ended. The time for cooperation has begun. Politics has played its part. Now the work of national transformation must take centre stage. This is the moment to put aside what divides us and embrace what unites us. We are one nation. One people. One destiny,” said Mutharika.
He described his election victory as a triumph for democracy, noting that the win was not for an individual or a political party, but for the Constitution and every Malawian who envisions a brighter future.
“This is not a victory for an individual or a party. It is a victory for our democracy, for our Constitution, and most importantly, for every Malawian who believes in a better tomorrow. More than 5.5 million Malawians turned out to vote. That is a powerful statement of hope, civic responsibility, and national unity. Your voice has been heard. Your vote has counted. Your will has prevailed,” he said.
Mutharika paid tribute to outgoing President Lazarus Chakwera for conceding defeat, commending him for demonstrating statesmanship and commitment to peace and democratic values.
He also applauded the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja and her team for presiding over the electoral process with ‘professionalism, clarity, transparency, and dignity.’
The president-elect further expressed gratitude to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters and alliance partners from the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Liberation for Economic Freedom (LEF), and the National Development Party (NDP), saying their combined effort had captured the confidence of the nation.
He acknowledged the role of the media, praising journalists for their responsible reporting, which he said helped to inform voters and promote peace throughout the election period.
On September 24, 2025, MEC declared Mutharika as the winner of the presidential election held on September 16, 2025.
He amassed 3,035,249 votes against 1,765,170 for Chakwera, securing 56.8 percent of the vote and crossing the 50-percent-plus-one threshold required for an outright win.
