Peter Mutharika, aged 85, has returned to power in Malawi after defeating his long-time opponent and outgoing leader Lazarus Chakwera. He was sworn in as the country’s President on October 4 in Blantyre, marking the start of his second tenure after previously holding office from 2014 to 2020. Kamuzu Stadium was filled with thousands of supporters dressed in the blue and white of the Democratic Progressive Party to witness the ceremony. In his opening speech, Mutharika described the nation as being in deep economic turmoil, citing fuel and food shortages, soaring inflation, and persistent poverty, which he called a crisis created by poor governance. He vowed to take decisive steps to eliminate corruption and implement measures aimed at revitalising Malawi’s weakened economy.
