Arthur Peter Mutharika Assumes Presidency of Malawi
(MENAFN) Arthur Peter Mutharika was officially sworn in as Malawi's seventh president on Saturday, following a decisive victory in the September 16 general elections.
At the ceremony in Blantyre, the 85-year-old former law professor issued a stern warning to government officials from his Democratic Progressive Party, stressing the end of what he called the “honeymoon of looting.” Mutharika made it clear that any attempts to misuse the country's resources for personal gain would not be tolerated.
“The honeymoon of looting is now over. You are now dealing with a different president. I will not allow anyone to destroy this country under my watch. Whoever will be involved in corrupt practices, I will go after him. I have come to bring sanity and restore discipline in all sectors of government,” Mutharika declared during a ceremony that featured military parades and traditional dances.
The newly sworn-in leader emphasized that his presidency signals the start of a new chapter for Malawi, one that will focus on addressing the nation’s “serious crisis.”
“Malawi is in the middle of a crisis. I have therefore come with a comprehensive rescue plan that would help to rebuild this nation, which has been wantonly destroyed. It won’t be easy. It’s going to be very tough. I therefore don’t promise you milk and honey. I promise you hard work and patience,” he said. “I urge all of you, irrespective of your party affiliations, to work with me, so that together we can bring back this country on a path of economic prosperity.”
Mutharika’s first term as president began in 2014, but his re-election in 2019 was annulled by the Constitutional Court due to "massive irregularities." In the 2020 court-mandated election, Lazarus Chakwera emerged as the winner.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, and Daniel Chapo, President of Mozambique, along with representatives from other nations in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). However, Chakwera was notably absent, having been barred from attending the event. Former presidents Joyce Banda and Bakili Muluzi were present at the ceremony.
In the September 16 elections, which saw seven million eligible voters, the race for president was fiercely contested, with seven candidates vying for the top position. Both Chakwera and Mutharika emerged as the dominant contenders in what became a highly competitive electoral battle.
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