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Malawi: Peter Mutharika sworn in as Joyce Banda concedes defeat
Newly elected Malawian President Peter Mutharika, signs a document as he takes an oath of office. PHOTO/Amos Gumulira/AFP
Peter Mutharika, the brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika who died in office in 2012, appealed to the other 11 presidential candidates to join him “in rebuilding the country” as he took the oath of office with Vice President Saulos Chilima.
The results of the May 20 election were announced late on Friday.
“It’s obvious we are facing serious problems in this country. All of us together, let us build the country which is almost on the verge of collapse,” Mutharika said late on Friday in his first speech as President.
The 74-year-old law professor takes the leadership of Malawi while still facing treason charges for attempting to conceal his brother’s death in office two years ago. He allegedly did so in a bid to prevent Joyce Banda — then vice-president, from assuming power.
Outgoing president, Joyce Banda, on Saturday congratulated Mutharika for his victory. Conceding defeat, Banda congratulated Mutharika for his “victory in a closely contested election” and said she was “leaving office a happy person”.
Banda described the presidential election as “tense”, but added that Malawians should move forward “as one nation, to remain united, to uphold the rule of law, and continue being peaceful and calm as we head into the next fifty years of Malawi’s future.”
Banda, the country’s first female president, came to power in 2012 after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.
