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ZIMBABWE’S Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi will today join other foreign dignitaries at the inauguration of Malawi’s fifth president Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Stadium, in the commercial capital Blantyre.
During the inauguration, Mutharika will among other things be commissioned as the Commander-in-chief of the Malawi Defence Forces and he will observe a military parade mounted in his honour.
The 74-year-old law professor takes the leadership of Malawi facing treason charges for attempting to conceal his brother’s (Bingu wa Mutharika) death in office two years ago, in an alleged bid to prevent Banda – then vice-president – from assuming office.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Saturday joined other world leaders in congratulating president-elect Mutharika on his successful election.
The US government also offered congratulations to Malawi’s new leader, hailing the active and peaceful elections.
Mutharika has appealed to the other 11 presidential candidates to “join me in rebuilding the country” as he took the oath of office with Vice President Saulos Chilima.
“The United States congratulates Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and Mr Saulos Chilima on being elected the new president and vice president, respectively, of the Republic of Malawi,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
“We further congratulate the people of Malawi for actively and peacefully exercising their democratic rights in selecting their new leader.”
Psaki said “the United States looks forward to continuing our close partnership with the government of Malawi in advance of our mutual interests of supporting Malawi’s development.”
Mutharika called on Malawians to rescue their country from “collapse” as he was sworn in as president on Saturday, after ousting his arch-rival Joyce Banda in disputed polls.
“It’s obvious we are facing serious problems in this country. All of us together, let us build the country which is almost on the verge of collapse,” Mutharika said in his first speech since being declared president late Friday.
Mutharika told journalists at a news conference at his residence in the leafy suburb of Nyambadwe in Blantyre that he would continue maintaining relationships with Western donors while courting “new friends” such as China and Brazil.
“It’s inevitable, we will continue our relationship with donors who provide 40 percent of our recurrent budget,” he said.
Banda on Saturday congratulated Mutharika for his “victory in a closely contested election,” according to a statement.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Dr Lazarus Chakwera who came second has also conceded defeat. Claims are that on Saturday morning he called the President-elect to congratulate him for emerging the winner in the May 20 tripartite elections.
“Today (Saturday) at 6:15 I called the President-elect Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika who has since been sworn in as fifth president of the Republic of Malawi to congratulate him and wish him well,” said Chakwera who believes that his party did not lose the tightly fought elections.
“We believe we did not lose. The systems failed us and all this happened in full view of all Malawians and the world”, the MCP leader added.
The electoral commission said Mutharika took 36.4 percent of the votes cast against Banda’s 20.2 percent, with the commission chief Maxon Mbendera declaring Mutharika “president-elect”.
The results showed Banda beaten into third place by Chakwera, who garnered 27.8 percent.
The tense elections saw sporadic outbreaks of violence among supporters of the different parties. One person was killed when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters demanding a recount in the south-eastern town of Mangochi.
Banda, who became Malawi’s first female president in 2012, had sought to have the polls declared “null and void” on the grounds of “serious irregularities”.
Banda made no mention of electoral fraud – or any other charges – as she issued a statement conceding defeat and urging the country to throw its weight behind Mutharika.
She urged “all Malawians to support the newly elected President Professor Mutharika and his government as they take on this foundation of progress and endeavour to develop Malawi even further”.
Malawians should move forward “as one nation, to remain united, to uphold the rule of law, and continue being peaceful and calm as we head into the next fifty years of Malawi’s future,” Banda said. — HR/AFP/faceofmalawi.com/Nyasa Times.
Online Reporter