Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has congratulated Malawi’s President-elect, Prof. Peter Mutharika, on his victory in the recently concluded presidential election.
Taking to X on Thursday, Gachagua described Mutharika’s win as a “continental statement” showing that the ballot remains the strongest weapon against bad governance. “It is a declaration that Africa, the rising continent and a home to 1.5 billion people, is no longer a playground for religious hypocrisy, conmanship, corruption, pathological lies, dictatorship, and self-serving regimes,” he wrote.
He argued that the election outcome should serve as a warning to leaders across the continent who cling to power through manipulation and disregard for the rule of law. “From Idi Amin to Mobutu, from Bokassa to Mugabe, the era of oligarchy and strongmen has collapsed under the weight of people’s power on the ballot,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua went further to challenge Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election, urging citizens to use their vote as a tool for change. “Malawi has reminded us that African citizens are awake. They see. They feel. They think. They act,” he noted, adding, “Let it ring loudly in the hearts of all those still waiting for justice, dignity, real leadership, and liberation. The will of the people is supreme. WANTAM IS A REALITY!”
Mutharika, 85, who previously served as Malawi’s president from 2014 to 2020, was credited with improving infrastructure and lowering inflation during his earlier tenure. However, critics accused him of cronyism, allegations he denied. His comeback victory saw him defeat incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, whose administration faced mounting criticism over corruption, mismanagement, and failure to deliver on promises such as job creation.
During Chakwera’s leadership, inflation soared to 33 percent, driving up the cost of maize and fertilizer in the agriculture-dependent nation. The economic struggles became a central issue in the campaign.
Chakwera conceded defeat to Mutharika on September 24, just hours before the election authority was set to announce the final results of the September 16 vote.
By Lucky Anyanje
