By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Malawi’s President Elect, Dr Lazarus Chikwera on his election as the new Malawi President.
Dr Chakwera defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of the vote in Tuesday’s poll, the electoral commission announced late on Saturday.
Said Mnangagwa:
“I wish to convey to you our warmest congratulations on your election to the high office of Pesident of the Republic of Malawi. Your election is ample testimony to the trust and confidence that the people of Malawi have in your capacity to lead your great country to a more prosperous future,” reads President Mnangagwa’s statement.”
Malawians returned to the polls on the 23rd of June for a re-run of the presidential election five months after the Constitutional Court annulled the results of a disputed vote last year.
The vote pitted the incumbent, Mr Peter Mutharika and Lazarus Chakwera, a former evangelist, who united the opposition under a coalition to unseat the ruling Democratic Progressive Party which was formed in 2004.
The former president Mr Peter Mutharika had initially been declared the winner of the May 2019 election with a slim victory, gaining 38.5% of the vote.
President Mnangagwa, also in his capacity as Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation commended the people of Malawi for showing great maturity and patience in exercising their democratic right against the twin odds of COVID-19 pandemic as well as voting in the absence of international observers.
“Your people has indeed demonstrated that great things can be achieved when people have a common purpose…. let me assure you of my Government’s commitment to further strengthen and broaden the excellent bilateral relations that exist between our two countries, I look forward to working with you at the regional, continental and international levels to promote international peace, security and development” said Mnangagwa.