By Chisomo Phiri
The newly elected 7th Malawi president Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has vowed to lead a government rooted in integrity, hard work, and service to the people.
Speaking during his colorful inauguration ceremony at Kamuzu Stadium (KS ) in Blantyre on Saturday, Mutharika,who also led the country from 2014 to 2019 and again briefly from 2019 to 2020,said he has returned with a new vision and a new agenda, emphasizing that his comeback is driven by both the will of God and the collective will of Malawians.
“I promised that I would be back and today, I am back with a new vision, a new agenda.
“I am back by the will of God and the will of the people. I must never forget the invisible hand of God in this historic election,” he said.
Mutharika who is also the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP ) urged Malawians to unite around a common vision for development, saying the election showed that the nation was ready for change.
“We all wanted change. We voted for change. We expect change. I promise you real change. Zithuzi zisintha! But real change must begin with each one of us.
“If we want a different Malawi, we must begin to think differently and do things differently,” he said.
The new president reminded members of his party and public officials that government exists to serve citizens, not for personal gain.
“Malawi does not belong to any person, tribe, or political party not even the DPP. Government is not a feast. It is not about kudyelela. It is about serving, delivering, and helping everyone prosper in their businesses, farming, and education,” he said.
In a firm tone, Mutharika declared that the honeymoon of looting government is over, warning public servants against corruption, theft, and abuse of office.
“You are dealing with a different president now.I will not allow anyone to destroy this country under my watch and I mean anyone,” he said.
The new president added that both he and his vice, Jane Ansah, would enforce strict discipline in public offices to restore integrity and accountability.
“We will clean up the house to restore discipline and sanity in government.Never say I didn’t warn you,” said Mutharika.
He extended his gratitude to voters, the DPP membership, and the party’s alliance partners for the victory.
Mutharika specifically thanked Enock Chihana of Alliance for Democracy (AFORD ) and his party for contributing to what he described as a ‘national consensus.’
He also expressed appreciation to religious leaders, both Christian and Muslim, for their role in standing against corruption and injustice.
“Malawians voted out corruption, theft, looting, and state-sponsored terror.The spirit that destroys our nation comes from within us.We are the people destroying our own country, and we must heal it,” said Mutharika.
The new president thanked Malawi’s international partners including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, SADC, and the UNDP for supporting the country’s democratic process.
“Please send us investors and every support you can.Malawi is now open for business. You can trust my government on financial management and my previous government proved that,” appealed Mutharika.
He also acknowledged messages of goodwill from world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and expressed readiness to strengthen international cooperation.
Turning to his new administration’s vision, Mutharika said Malawi had inherited an economic crisis, citing severe shortages of food, fuel, and foreign exchange, as well as high public debt.
“Malawi’s crisis is man-made, not a natural tragedy.Any problem created by humans can be solved by humans. We will fix this country but it will not be easy. I promise not milk and honey, but hard work and tough decisions,” he said.
The new president urged Malawians to remain patient and disciplined as his government works to rebuild the economy.
“With patience, discipline, and hard work, we will make Malawi a country we are proud to live in,” said Mutharika.
Concluding his address, Mutharika said his administration has a comprehensive development and governance blueprint to guide national transformation.
“Our manifesto is a pledge for total transformation.The DPP government is ready to govern and ready to rebuild this country,” he said.
The new president also thanked regional leaders and foreign dignitaries who attended the ceremony and wished them safe travels back home.
On September 24, 2025, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja 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 Malawi Congress Party (MCP ) leader,Dr.Lazarus Chakwera, securing 56.8 percent of the vote and crossing the 50-percent-plus-one threshold required for an outright win.
