JOHANNESBURG — President Jacob Zuma has congratulated Peter Mutharika and assured him of South Africa’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Malawi.
“We would like to assure Mr Mutharika of South Africa’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries,” said Zuma on Saturday.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Malawi for successfully conducting their elections, thus entrenching a democratic culture in the country.”
Former Foreign minister Peter Mutharika was sworn in on Saturday as the new President of Malawi after the election commission declared him the winner of the disputed polls.
Mutharika, the younger brother of President Bingu wa Mutharika who died in office in 2012, urged the 11 other former presidential candidates to “join me in rebuilding the country” after some of them had contested the results.The results of the fraught May 20 election were announced late on Friday after the high court blocked a last-ditch demand for a recount.
“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 in his first speech since being declared President.
The 74-year-old law professor takes the leadership of Malawi facing treason charges for attempting to conceal his brother’s death in office two years ago, in an alleged bid to prevent Joyce Banda — then Vice-President — from assuming power.
As a former Foreign minister and his brother’s right-hand man, he was also a leading member of an administration widely blamed for bringing the small Southern African country’s economy to its knees through years of mismanagement.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
At the time of Bingu wa Mutharika’s death in 2012, stores were often empty, service stations dry and, shunned by international donors, Malawi had largely depleted its currency reserves.
Mutharika told journalists at a news conference at his residence in a leafy suburb of Nyambadwe in Blantyre that he would continue maintaining relationships with Western donors while courting “new friends” such as China and Brazil.
“It’s inevitable, we will continue our relationship with donors who provide 40% of our recurrent budget,” he said.
Banda, Malawi’s first woman president, conceded defeat and congratulated Mutharika on Saturday on his “victory in a closely contested election”. Banda said she was “leaving office a happy person” after winning 20,2% of the votes compared with Mutharika’s 36,4%.
There is speculation that Mutharika could now turn the tables and charge Banda with corruption over a $30-million graft scandal dubbed Cashgate.
Banda has claimed credit for uncovering the fraud, which saw aid money siphoned into top government officials’ pockets. But critics, including Mutharika, say the funds went into her party’s election war chest.
Banda made no mention of electoral fraud — or any other charges — as she conceded defeat and urged the country to throw its weight behind Mutharika.
She told “all Malawians to support the newly-elected President Professor Mutharika and his government as they take on this foundation of progress and endeavour to develop Malawi even further”. — Sapa
