Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has formally conceded defeat in the 2025 presidential election to Peter Mutharika, who previously led the country from 2014 to 2020.
In a public address, Chakwera, 70, said: “It is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution. I am committed to a peaceful transfer of power.”
The vote, widely regarded as one of Malawi’s most closely contested in recent years, focused on the country’s economic challenges, including:
• 33% inflation and rising food and fuel prices
• Persistent poverty, with three-quarters of Malawians living on less than $3 a day
• Concerns over slow anti-corruption measures
Mutharika, 85, is credited with previous economic stability and infrastructure improvements but faced criticism over alleged cronyism. Official results from the Electoral Commission confirm his decisive lead.
Source: Al Jazeera

