Samia congratulates Malawi’s President elect Mutharika
DODOMA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has congratulated the Malawi’s President-elect, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, following his victory in the country’s 2025 general election.
In remarks made yesterday via her official social media accounts, President Samia praised Malawi’s democratic process and expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Tanzania, I convey my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President-elect of the Republic of Malawi, on his victory in the 2025 Malawian General Election, I look forward to working together to further strengthen our historic ties.” said President Samia.
She also commended outgoing President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Malawian people for ensuring a peaceful election and smooth transition of power, hallmarks of a mature democracy.
“I commend President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the people of Malawi, for a peaceful election and a smooth transition,” she added.
According to The Independent newspaper, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, 85, a former president who served Malawi from 2014 to 2020, was declared the winner of the September 16 presidential election by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Wednesday evening.
Running on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket, he secured 56.8 per cent of the vote amounting to nearly 3.04 million votes in a crowded field of 17 candidates.
His main rival, incumbent President Chakwera of the MCP, trailed with about 1.77 million votes, or 33 per cent, according to MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja.
“Professor Mutharika has surpassed the required 50 per cent plus one threshold and is therefore, duly elected as the seventh President of the Republic of Malawi,” announced Mtalimanja during a press briefing in Lilongwe.
The final results came just hours after Chakwera conceded defeat in a nationally televised address.
“It’s well clear that my main rival, Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, had already secured an insurmountable lead,” said Chakwera.
“I called Prof Mutharika directly to congratulate him on his historic victory and to wish him well in his upcoming tenure.”
Dr Chakwera, 70, also thanked his supporters and called on all Malawians to rally behind Mutharika in pursuit of national unity and prosperity.
Prof Mutharika is expected to assume office alongside his running mate, former MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah, who will serve as VicePresident.
While the election was praised for its peaceful conduct, some political analysts described it as a “protest vote” against the ruling party’s performance. “Mostly, the vote that the DPP has gotten is a protest vote,” said political analyst Wonderful Mkhuche on a local TV programme, adding; “People voted for the DPP because the MCP failed to deliver on its promises.”
There were brief legal tensions leading up to the announcement, as Chakwera had filed a court injunction to halt the release of results, citing irregularities.
