President Mnangagwa congratulates new Malawi leader

Harare (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security on Sunday congratulated Malawi’s newly elected leader, President Lazarus Chakwera.

He beat incumbent President Peter Mutharika and other candidates in Tuesday’s re- run presidential vote.

The election was re-run after Malawi’s courts annulled the incumbent’s victory in last year’s vote.

“The Southern African Development Community (SADC) commends the people of the Republic of Malawi for turning out in large numbers to exercise their civic and democratic right during the re-run Presidential Election that was held on 23rd June, 2020, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” President Mnangagwa said.

President Mnangagwa said SADC applauds the Malawi Electoral Commission for the efficient and effective organization and management of the re-run Presidential Elections in the face of the challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“SADC has and will remain engaged with key electoral stakeholders in Malawi and render it support in the post-election period as necessary,” he said.

He urged the losing candidates to accept the re-run election results.

“Finally, SADC urges the candidates who took part in the re-run Presidential Election in the Republic of Malawi and their supporters to accept the official results of the election as announced by the Malawi Electoral Commission, and to observe the national electoral and constitutional processes should they have grievances regarding the electoral process,” said President Mnangagwa.

SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomena Tax commended the people of Malawi for showing political maturity throughout the election process.

“Congratulations Your Excellence Dr Lazarus Chakwera for your election as the President of Malawi. SADC commends the people of Malawi for the patience and political maturity demonstrated throughout the electoral process and looks forward to working with President Chakwera,” she said in a tweet.

New Ziana