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Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as Malawi president after historic win

Lazarus Chakwera has been sworn in as president of Malawi after winning election re-run, the BBC reports.

He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the votes in Tuesday’s poll.

Mr Mutharika did not attend the ceremony.

Malawi’s constitutional court annulled Mutharika’s win in February, citing vote tampering. The country has been under political turmoil since the annulment.

Saulos Chilima, was also sworn in as vice-president, in a ceremony held at the country’s capital, Lilongwe.

After being sworn in, Mr Chakwera said: ’’Fellow Malawians, to stand before you is an honour.

The new president 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.

Mr Chakwera has been heading the Malawi Congress Party. He leads a nine-party coalition, The Tonse Alliance. The alliance had the backing of former president Joyce Banda.

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