Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has conceded defeat in the country’s presidential election, less than two hours before the official results were scheduled to be announced.
Partial results released so far indicate that former president Peter Mutharika, Chakwera’s predecessor, has taken a commanding lead in the September 16 poll.
“It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,” Chakwera said in a televised address to the nation.
“I am fully committed to a peaceful transfer of power.”
The Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to officially declare the final presidential results later on Wednesday. Supporters of Mutharika erupted in celebration at the national tally centre after news of Chakwera’s concession broke.
This election marked the fourth time the two veteran politicians, Mutharika, 85, and Chakwera, 70—faced off at the ballot box.
Mutharika previously won in 2014 and again in 2019, although the latter result was annulled by Malawi’s Constitutional Court due to widespread irregularities, including tampering with result sheets using correction fluid. Chakwera won the court-ordered re-run in 2020.
This year’s election came amid worsening economic conditions that analysts said would pose a major challenge to Chakwera’s re-election bid. Malawi has been grappling with high inflation, above 20% for over three years, alongside the devastating effects of a cyclone and a regional drought, both linked to climate change. These disasters have wiped out crops and deepened economic hardship.
Incoming President Peter Mutharika.
Nearly three-quarters of Malawians live below the World Bank’s poverty line of $3 per day, and roughly half of the population fails to meet minimum daily nutritional requirements, according to World Bank data.
