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Opposition wins historic rerun of Malawiโ€™s presidential vote

BLANTYRE, Malawi ย โ€” The opposition has won Malawiโ€™s 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 Chakweraโ€™s 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 โ€”could not stand.

President Peter Mutharika, who had sought a second five-year term, earlier Saturday called the rerun of the election โ€œthe worst in Malawiโ€™s history.โ€ He alleged his partyโ€™s monitors had been beaten and intimidated during Tuesdayโ€™s 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.

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โ€œIโ€™m so happy I could dance all night,โ€ Chakwera, former leader of the Malawi Assemblies of God church, told reporters. โ€œThis is a win for Malawians, a win for democracy.โ€

Malawiโ€™s drama was just the second time in Africa that a court has overturned a presidential election, following a ruling on Kenyaโ€™s vote in 2017. In Kenyaโ€™s fresh election, the president won while the opposition boycotted.

As Malawi prepared for its new vote, incumbent Vice President Saulos Chilima, who split last yearโ€™s results with Chakwera, decided instead to stand as his running mate in a bid to maximize chances of unseating Mutharika.

Mutharika
Outgoing President Peter Mutharika described Tuesday’s vote as the worst election Malawi has ever had | Photo Courtesy

Some celebrations began Thursday night when Malawiโ€™s state broadcaster reported that Chakwera was well ahead with all votes in. But the electoral commission, revamped since the courtโ€™s ruling, indicated it was taking time to meet legal requirements in verifying results.

The commissionโ€™s new chair, judge Chifundo Kachale, while announcing the results acknowledged that โ€œit has been a very interesting journey.โ€ He said turnout was 64% of 6.8 million registered voters.

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An attempt by Mutharikaโ€™s government to get Malawiโ€™s 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 โ€œmove on peacefullyโ€ and respect the presidency.

About Whispers from the North

Whispers from the Northย is an online platform that appreciates the ecological, cultural and socio-economic diversities of Northern Kenya. We also acknowledge that the lives of the communities of northern Kenya has been shaped by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors which have led to complex challenge that calls for a multifaceted approach.

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