Peter Mutharika was sworn in as Malawi’s president on 4th October after a political comeback at the age of 85 to win last month’s election.
Thousands gathered at Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial capital, Blantyre, for Mutharika’s inauguration. He previously served as president of the southern African nation from 2014 to 2020.
He lost office in 2020, following a 2019 election that he had won, being invalidated by a court due to extensive irregularities and being directed to be held again the next year.
He took a Sept. 16 election with 56% of the vote against incumbent Lazarus Chakwera‘s 33% to regain office.
Mutharika inherited the country in the midst of an economic crisis, which is already one of the least developed countries in Africa. High inflation and shortages of fuel and food caused broad dissatisfaction with the rule of Chakwera.
Malawi, largely dependent on agriculture, was also affected by recent climatic shocks, such as the destructive cyclone in 2023 and the recent drought last year that ruined crops.
“Our country is in trouble. No food, no foreign exchange. This is a man-made problem,” Mutharika declared at his inauguration. “We will get this country in shape. I don’t promise you milk and honey, but sweat.”
Mutharika, who is a professor of law at the University of Malawi and who studied at Yale University in the United States, promised to crack down on corruption, but he was also accused of graft during his first term.
Mutharaki urged the international community to invest in Malawi, stating that the nation is in need of partnerships rather than handouts. He commended the United States, the U.K., and the European Union for cooperation in the fight against corruption and stated that a Malawian delegation will shortly be journeying to Washington to negotiate after the slashing of U.S. aid damaged Malawi.
He claimed that President Donald Trump had congratulated him via a message.
Chakwera did not show up at Mutharika’s inauguration, but his Malawi Congress Party extended a message of goodwill.
