By Edwin Mauluka
Malawi’s new president Peter Mutharika has pledged to revive the country’s struggling economy, stressing that the task will not be easy and requires all Malawians to work together “to rebuild the country.”
Mutharika, sworn in as Malawi’s seventh president on October 4 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, said he respects the diversity of political views and that no one should fear retribution simply for how they voted.
“Unless you committed a crime — if you were stealing, if you were looting this country— then you should be worried,” the 85-year-old former law professor and constitutional expert told Times TV on the sidelines of the inauguration.
Corruption dogged the outgoing Malawi Congress Party administration of Lazarus Chakwera, 70, who lost to Mutharika by a wide margin in the September 16 elections, 56.7 percent to 33 percent.
In his inaugural address before a packed stadium, Mutharika declared the end of plundering government resources and promised to restore integrity and efficiency in public service under his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.
He emphasized that holding public office must never be an opportunity for personal or family enrichment.
“Malawi belongs to all of us,” he said. “So, if anyone acts to the contrary, I will go after him or her. Never say I never warned you.
”Mutharika said the mentality of self-enrichment in public office is destroying the country.“If this country is to change, real change must come from within us. Let us begin to think differently,” he added.
Acknowledging challenges from food insecurity to severe shortages of foreign reserves,the president outlined a transformative recovery plan and invited international investors, promising a conducive environment for business. He said rebuilding global confidence is key to attracting capital for development projects, spurring growth, and lifting living standards.
“After years of economic turbulence and public despair, the economy is broken but not beyond repair,” Mutharika declared. “Together, we shall rebuild. We will restore food security, fix the fuel crisis, and bring back the hope every Malawian deserves.”He cautioned that change will not happen overnight, calling for patience, discipline, and hard work.
Vice President Jane Ansah, a retired justice, hailed Mutharika as a visionary leader committed to unity, peace, and prosperity, thanking God for granting Malawi “another opportunity” under his leadership.
Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda administered the oath of office under the theme “The Great Return to Proven Leadership.”
The ceremony was attended by former presidents Bakili Muluzi (1994–2004) and Joyce Banda (2012–2014), along with foreign dignitaries including Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, and ministers from Angola, Namibia, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
