Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera acknowledged his defeat in the September 16 election on Wednesday, declaring in a national address that his rival, Peter Mutharika, had secured an “insurmountable lead” in the presidential race.
“Just a few minutes ago, I called Professor Mutharika to wish him good luck,” Chakwera said, speaking only hours before the country’s electoral authority was due to publish the final results of the vote, which also covered parliamentary and local elections. According to Chakwera, leader of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), it was “clear that my rival Peter Mutharika holds an insurmountable lead.”
Chakwera, 70, rose to power after the annulment of the disputed 2019 election results due to irregularities. He went on to win the 2020 re-run with nearly 59% of the vote.
