President Lazarus Chakwera has conceded defeat in the September 16 general elections to Arthur Peter Mutharika, becoming the second president in Malawi to do so while in power.
The first president to do so was Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who on May 19, 1994, accepted the democratic will of Malawians to choose Bakili Muluzi as his successor.
Since then, there has never been a mutual transfer of power. However, it will be seen if Chakwera will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Mutharika.
In a televised address few hours before the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) announced final official results, Chakwera said it was evident, from the that Mutharika has insurmountable lead and is the presumptive winner of the presidential election.
“For this reason, a moment ago, I called Professor Mutharika directly to congratulate him on his historic victory and to wish him well in his upcoming tenure as the seventh President of the Republic of Malawi. I have done this because I accept the results of the presidential election that the Malawi Electoral Commission has already validated and released, just as I will accepted the final result that the Commission is scheduled to announce at 2pm.
“I know that to many of you who supported my campaign for re-election, this outcome is disappointing, but I want you to know that I will forever be grateful for your trust in me and for your support of my candidacy. I also know that to the majority of you who voted, this outcome is a reflection of your collective will to have a change of Government, and so it is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the Constitution.
“But regardless of whether or not you voted, and regardless of how you voted, if you are a Malawian citizen anywhere in the world, I want to thank you for conducting yourself throughout this election in a peaceful, orderly, and lawful manner. Most importantly, I want to thank the Lord God Almighty and all of you for the incredible privilege you gave me for the past five years to serve as your sixth President.
“In the days that remain before my successor takes his oath of office, I want you to know that I am fully committed to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. I have already instructed my team to begin preparations to render the incoming Administration any support needed to ensure a seamless process that safeguards our nation’s peace, order, institutions, public services, and constitutionalism. Additionally, I have issued directives for all my staff to see to it that over the coming days, all State Residences are left in good order and in time for the President-Elect to move in upon taking his oath of office,” he said
He thanked MEC for what he described as a meticulous and outstanding job it has done to ensure that the entire electoral process is peaceful and transparent.
“Worthy of special mention and praise in this regard is the MEC Chair, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, whose cool head and steady hands have ably steered this long and complex process in a manner that is commendable and admirable. But I know that to run an election as well as she has requires an ecosystem of supportive Commissioners, electoral staff, and stakeholders. So as President, I want to thank all of you for the role you have played to make these General Elections a success and to make Malawi’s democracy a shining example for the whole world,” he said
