Former Assemblies of God leader becomes President of Malawi

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The former head of the Assemblies of God denomination in Malawi has now been elected president of the country. Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in Sunday, having won 58% of the vote to beat incumbent Peter Mutharika, Evangelical Focus reported.

Leading the Malawi Congress Party since 2013, Chakwera became president of Malawi after serving as President of Malawi Assemblies of God for 24 years. He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theology from the University of South Africa and a Doctorate in Ministry from Trinity International University in the US. 

In a video message about going into politics, Chakwera had said:  “I had to argue with God over a direction in life that didn’t seem natural to me.” Nevertheless, addressing the citizens of Malawi after his victory President Chakwera said: “I accept this call to serve you for I am duty-bound to God.”

Talking of the country’s dream to “enjoy shared prosperity, not just freedom,” Chakwera said: “The time has come for us to go beyond dreaming. We all must wake up because this is a time to arise from slumber and make our dream come true…I pledge to run Malawi well, because that is the surest pay-off that has been long in ruins, riddled with potholes of greed and corruption.”

Chakwera was able to take office after Malawi became the first African country to have a presidential election result canceled by a court because of irregularities. In elections held in May 2019, the incumbent Mutharika was shown to have a won a narrow victory over Chakwera. However, the Constitutional Court overturned this highly controversial result, finding fault with the election process.

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