Gideon Moi congratulates Malawi’s newly elected leader Chakwera

Newly elected Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera during his swearing-in ceremony in Lilongwe, Malawi on June 28, 2020. [Courtesy]

Kanu leader Gideon Moi has congratulated Malawi’s newly elected President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) a day after he was declared the winner of a presidential election re-run conducted on Tuesday.

“On behalf of Kenya’s party of independence, Kanu, and on my own behalf, I wish to congratulate Chakwera for his resounding and well-deserved victory in the just concluded Presidential election,” said Gideon in a statement to the media on Sunday.

Similar values

He said as a party, Kanu is proud to be associated with MCP victory because the two parties share a common history, values and symbols.

“I wish to assure Chakwera that Kanu is proud to be associated with the victory of Tonse Alliance and the Malawi Congress Party in particular; a party with which we share in common the history, values, and the symbol of the cockerel.”

The Kanu leader said campaigned on a platform of enhanced provision of social services such as healthcare, water, education, and infrastructure among others, the same things Kanu as a party stand for.

“Chakwera campaigned vigorously on the platform of unity in the midst of diversity. He placed the premium on the enhanced provision of social services such as healthcare, water, education, and infrastructure among others, all of which are critical to supporting sustainable livelihood,”

Gideon also praised Malawians for keeping the peace during the campaigns amid a year-long tension that gripped the country after the first round of the election was annulled by the Constitutional Court.

“The people of Malawi have played a significant role in underscoring the vitality of peace during the campaign period amid tension that had gripped the country since the first round of elections in May 2019, and the subsequent nullification of the presidential results by the Constitutional Court,” he said.

He challenged Malawians to join hands and re-embark on building their nation to create a flourishing economy with opportunities for all to thrive.

Gideon also described Chakwera as a supportive man who stood with his family during the demise of President Moi early this year, attending his funeral at Kabarak.

“I wish to express our gratitude to him on behalf of the Moi family for having stood with us when we lost Mzee in February this year and attended the funeral at Kabarak. We shall forever remember that very humbling gesture of goodwill at our lowest point,” he said.

Sworn in

Chakwera and his vice Saulos Chilima were on June 28 sworn in by Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda in a ceremony held in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe.

The two were sworn as President and Vice President respectively, a day after the Malawi Electoral Commission declared they had won a presidential election re-run conducted on Tuesday.

Chilima, a sitting Vice President and leader of the United Transformation Movement ditched Peter Mutharika to support Chakwera’s election.

Chakwera who vied on a Malawi Congress Party ticket defeated the incumbent Peter Mutharika after garnering 58.57 per cent of the vote, following a re-run in the presidential vote after Malawi’s constitutional court annulled the incumbent’s win in February citing vote tampering.

There was confusion as Chilima was forced to take the oath of office for a second time because they forgot to swear him on the bible.

Chilima has become the first Malawian Vice President to serve for two consecutive terms using different parties.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Chakwera noted that it is an honour that has reignited the dream of a better Malawi.