The outgoing head of state, Peter Mutharika, whose re-election had been canceled in 2019, denounced “irregularities” in Tuesday’s poll.
Lazarus Charge, le 20 juin 2020.
AFP
Malawi opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera won the presidential election contested Tuesday against outgoing Peter Mutharika, the Election Commission (MEC) announced on Saturday. Peter Mutharika’s re-election in 2019 had been canceled for fraud. “The Commission declares that Lazarus Chakwera, who obtained 58.75% of the votes, has reached the required majority and is elected president of Malawi,” declared its president Chifundo Kachale, to the outcry of the supporters of the winner.
Even before the announcement of his defeat, Peter Mutharika had earlier Saturday denounced “irregularities” in the ballot and his party demanded a new election. “We believe that most of the results sent to the MEC are not a reflection of the will of the people,” said the outgoing head of state, calling Tuesday’s vote “the worst in history” in the country.
During the disputed election in May 2019, the MEC proclaimed the victory of Peter Mutharika, in power since 2014, with 38.57% of the vote against 35.41% in Lazarus Chakwera. But seized by the opposition, the Constitutional Court invalidated last February the results because of “generalized and systematic irregularities” and ordered the holding of a new ballot. Malawi is only the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to have canceled a presidential election, after Kenya in 2017.
(ATS / NXP)
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