Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has officially conceded defeat in the country’s presidential election and congratulated his successor and predecessor, Arthur Peter Mutharika, in a televised address from Kamuzu Palace.
The polls, held on September 16, 2025, marked a dramatic political comeback for Mutharika, who had been unseated by Chakwera five years earlier.
Chakwera Concedes in Televised Address
“From those official results that the Malawi Electoral Commission announced as of two nights ago, it was clear that my main rival, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, had already secured an insurmountable lead and is the presumptive winner of the presidential election,” Chakwera said.
Mutharika’s Resounding Lead
Partial tallies showed Mutharika securing 66.7% of votes from 24 of 36 councils, surpassing the 50%+1 threshold required to avoid a run-off. In contrast, Chakwera trailed with just 24%.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is expected to release the official results later today, but Chakwera’s concession has already paved the way for a peaceful transition of power.
Political Turnaround
Mutharika, 85, previously served as Malawi’s president from 2014 until his defeat in the court-ordered 2020 re-run election. His return to power underscores a remarkable reversal in the country’s political fortunes.
Analysts say the outcome reflects both discontent with Chakwera’s administration and enduring support for Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
