Malawi President Chakwera Concedes Defeat as Mutharika Appears Set for Victory
Partial results show former leader Peter Mutharika ahead; Chakwera concedes on national television
BLANTYRE, Malawi — President Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat Wednesday in Malawi's elections, with former leader Peter Mutharika on course for victory after partial results released Monday night showed him with more than 60 percent of the vote, The Associated Press reported.
Chakwera spoke with Mutharika by telephone to offer his congratulations and said he considered Mutharika the presumptive winner of the southern African nation's presidential election.
Mutharika, 85, previously led Malawi from 2014 to 2020 and was seeking a return to the presidency following a period out of office. The early partial results presented him as the frontrunner and suggested broad support across the country.
Chakwera's concession on national television came after a campaign in which both leaders urged patience as results were tallied and the public awaited more complete tallies from the vote count.