{"id":15580,"date":"2025-09-30T12:14:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T12:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=15580"},"modified":"2025-09-30T12:14:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T12:14:29","slug":"former-president-mutharika-85-wins-malawi-election-to-oust-longtime-rival-chakwera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/former-president-mutharika-85-wins-malawi-election-to-oust-longtime-rival-chakwera\/","title":{"rendered":"Former President Mutharika (85) wins Malawi election to oust longtime rival Chakwera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Malawi President Peter Mutharika has been re-elected with 56.8 percent of votes in last week\u2019s polls that was marked by the dire state of the economy, the election commission has announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera took 33 percent of ballots cast on September 16, the authority announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chakwera conceded defeat to his predecessor Mutharika, 85, in the largely poor Southern African nation, battered by soaring costs and severe fuel shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,\u201d Chakwera, 70, said in an address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was clear that my rival Peter Mutharika has an insurmountable lead over me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the days that remain, I want you to know that I am committed to a peaceful transfer of power,\u201d Chakwera said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, citizens took to the polls to vote on the country\u2019s next leader, in a vote that analysts predicted would be one of the most tightly contested elections in the country in recent history between Mutharika and Chakwera, the candidates of the two biggest parties in Malawi\u2019s parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Malawi's
Malawi\u2019s presidential candidate and leader of the Democratic Progressive Party Peter Mutharika inspects a ballot paper before casting his vote during the general election at Thyolo District, south of Blantyre, Malawi, on September 16, 2025 [Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the dire state of the economy dominated the election, with critics accusing the president of mismanagement and indecisiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Chakwera was elected in 2020, the country has experienced economic stagnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Costs soared in the impoverished agricultural nation, with inflation reaching 33 percent and the price of food, maize and fertiliser increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the World Bank, nearly three-quarters of Malawians live below the $3 a day poverty line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the bank\u2019s estimates, about half the country\u2019s population does not receive the minimum number of calories required for adequate nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chakwera also promised to crack down on corruption when he was elected, but critics have accused his government of dealing with cases slowly and selectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I<\/strong>n comparison, former law professor Mutharika was credited with improving infrastructure and lowering inflation during his presidency from 2014 to 2020. However, critics accused him of cronyism, which he denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, Mutharika\u2019s 2019 election victory was annulled by a constitutional court due to irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on results sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the rerun the following year, Chakwera secured his victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former Malawi President Peter Mutharika has been re-elected with 56.8 percent of votes in last week\u2019s polls that was marked<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/download-1-4.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12169,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/21-days-of-national-mourning-for-the-demise-of-malawi-vice-president\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":0},"title":"21 Days Of National Mourning For The Demise Of Malawi Vice President","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"There will be 21 days of national mourning for Malawi\u2019s Vice President Saulos Chilima ,who was killed in a plane crash along with nine other passengers, the country\u2019s President Lazarus Chakwera has announced . The country will observe a 21-day national mourning for Chilima and the other officials killed in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/malawi-state-tv2.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/malawi-state-tv2.webp 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/malawi-state-tv2.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/malawi-state-tv2.webp 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/malawi-state-tv2.webp 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11944,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-joins-african-heads-of-state-for-ida21-summit-in-nairobi-kenya\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":1},"title":"President Museveni Joins African Heads of State for IDA21 Summit in Nairobi, Kenya","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni has joined other African leaders to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) for the African Heads of State Summit slated for April 28 to 29, 2024, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya. Museveni joins other leaders who include Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Julius Maada\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EAC Regional News"","block_context":{"text":"EAC Regional News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/eac-regional-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Museveni-being-welcomed-in-Nairobi-768x511-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Museveni-being-welcomed-in-Nairobi-768x511-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Museveni-being-welcomed-in-Nairobi-768x511-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Museveni-being-welcomed-in-Nairobi-768x511-1.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2463,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/nrm-veteran-and-musevenis-longtime-confidant-mzee-kirunda-kivejinja-has-died-at-85\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":2},"title":"NRM VETERAN AND MUSEVENI’S LONGTIME CONFIDANT MZEE KIRUNDA KIVEJINJA HAS DIED AT 85","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of President Yoweri Museveni's political mentors and long time confidant Mzee Ali Kirunda Kivejinja who has been battling Covid-19 at Mulago National Referral Hospital for over a month has died . He was 85 . Ali Kirunda Kivejinja (born 12 June 1935), more commonly known as Kirunda Kivejinja, was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kive.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kive.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kive.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/kive.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3227,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/museveni-sworn-in-as-president-of-uganda-and-by-2026-he-would-have-led-the-country-for-a-record-40-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":3},"title":"MUSEVENI SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT OF UGANDA AND BY 2026 HE WOULD HAVE LED THE COUNTRY FOR A RECORD 40-YEARS","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"May 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"BY Our Correspondents at Kololo Gen .Yoweri Museven has been sworn as president of the Republic of Uganda for the next five years and by \u00a02026 he will have led Uganda for a record 40 years. No other President has led Uganda for the long since the country \u2018s independence\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Breaking News"","block_context":{"text":"Breaking News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/breaking-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG-20210512-WA0149.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG-20210512-WA0149.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG-20210512-WA0149.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG-20210512-WA0149.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/IMG-20210512-WA0149.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3244,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/gen-museveni-sworn-in-as-president-vows-to-decisively-deal-with-corruption-that-has-crippled-government-services-and-programs\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":4},"title":"GEN MUSEVENI SWORN -IN AS PRESIDENT VOWS TO DECISIVELY DEAL WITH CORRUPTION THAT HAS CRIPPLED GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"May 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We must\u00a0 build a center of gravity for the African raceCalls for Africa economic integrationWealth funds will be managed by the beneficiaries at parish levelCurfew and other sectors to be re-opened after 4.7 million Ugandans are vaccinatedUSHS. 464bn set aside to help performing artists , boda bodas and sportsmen affected\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/museveni-swearing-in-data.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/museveni-swearing-in-data.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/museveni-swearing-in-data.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/museveni-swearing-in-data.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12153,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/aircraft-carrying-malawi-vice-president-missing-presidency-says\/","url_meta":{"origin":15580,"position":5},"title":"Aircraft carrying Malawi vice president missing, presidency says","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"June 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"An aircraft carrying Malawi's Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others has gone missing, Malawi's presidency said on Monday. \"All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the Aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far,\" Malawi's Office of the President and Cabinet said in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Africa News"","block_context":{"text":"Africa News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/africa-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gettyimages-1144715209.webp","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gettyimages-1144715209.webp 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gettyimages-1144715209.webp 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gettyimages-1144715209.webp 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/gettyimages-1144715209.webp 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-43i","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15580"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15582,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15580\/revisions\/15582"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}