President Lazarus Chakwera has chosen to do what few leaders in Malawi’s history have dared — to bow out gracefully and attend the inauguration of the man who defeated him. The Ministry of Information has confirmed that Chakwera will be present at Kamuzu Stadium this Saturday when President-elect Peter Mutharika and Vice President-elect Jane Ansah are sworn into office.
This is more than just protocol. It is a statement. Chakwera is showing that in a democracy, when one leader wins, the country wins. He is reminding Malawians that political rivalry must never stand in the way of national unity.
The gesture also highlights a painful contrast. In 2020, Mutharika, a man who had lived in the United States for nearly four decades and witnessed peaceful transfers of power up close, snubbed Chakwera’s inauguration out of bitterness. It was a petty and vindictive move that stained Malawi’s democratic record. Now, the same Mutharika will be inaugurated in the presence of the very man he once disrespected — and Chakwera is going to teach him what real statesmanship looks like.
Lawyer Khumbo Soko captured the mood when he wrote on Facebook: “History will be kind to this man. One of a kind. This is another class act. This commands nothing but respect. Well done, Mr President.”
Chakwera joins the league of progressive leaders — like those in the US who make it a point to attend inaugurations even in defeat — demonstrating that democracy is bigger than egos, bigger than parties, and bigger than individuals. His message is simple but profound: in Malawi, we are all one team.
