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BLANTYRE, Malawi ย โ The opposition has won Malawiโs historic rerun of the presidential election, the first time a court-overturned vote in Africa has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader. It is the second African nation to annul a presidential election over irregularities, afterย Kenya in 2017.
Lazarus Chakweraโs victory late Saturday was a result of months of determined street protests in the southern African nation, and of a unanimous decision by the Constitutional Court that widespread irregularities in the May 2019 election โ including the use of correction fluid on ballots โcould not stand.
President Peter Mutharika, who had sought a second five-year term, earlier Saturday called the rerun of the election โthe worst in Malawiโs history.โ He alleged his partyโs monitors had been beaten and intimidated during Tuesdayโs election, but the Malawi Human Rights Commission, an observer, called the vote peaceful and transparent.
Chakwera won with 58% of the vote, or 2.6 million votes out of 4.4 million cast. Mutharika received 1.7 million. Flag-waving supporters erupted in cheers as the results were read out, and some street celebrations began. Fireworks popped.
โIโm so happy I could dance all night,โ Chakwera, former leader of the Malawi Assemblies of God church, told reporters. โThis is a win for Malawians, a win for democracy.โ
Malawiโs drama was just the second time in Africa that a court has overturned a presidential election, following a ruling on Kenyaโs vote in 2017. In Kenyaโs fresh election, the president won while the opposition boycotted.
As Malawi prepared for its new vote, incumbent Vice President Saulos Chilima, who split last yearโs results with Chakwera, decided instead to stand as his running mate in a bid to maximize chances of unseating Mutharika.
Some celebrations began Thursday night when Malawiโs state broadcaster reported that Chakwera was well ahead with all votes in. But the electoral commission, revamped since the courtโs ruling, indicated it was taking time to meet legal requirements in verifying results.
The commissionโs new chair, judge Chifundo Kachale, while announcing the results acknowledged that โit has been a very interesting journey.โ He said turnout was 64% of 6.8 million registered voters.
An attempt by Mutharikaโs government to get Malawiโs chief justice to step down just days before the new election had failed amid an outcry. Now the chief justice is expected to swear in Chakwera on Sunday.
Aware that time was running out, the 79-year-old Mutharika on Saturday asked the country to โmove on peacefullyโ and respect the presidency.
