By The Forum

Malawi’s former president Lazarus Chakwera skipped the swearing-in of President-elect Peter Mutharika on October 4 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said he had offered to attend and personally hand over power, but the official program released at the last minute excluded him.

“He graciously offered to attend the inauguration and perform the historic handover of power, as expected of an outgoing Head of State,” said MCP publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila. “However, the final program did not include President Chakwera. This decision is deeply respected.”

But sources said Chakwera had sought assurances that he would not face heckling, a request organizers said was unrealistic. He then decided to stay away.

Attendance by outgoing presidents is not mandatory. In 2020, Mutharika himself skipped Chakwera’s swearing-in after losing the annulled 2019 election re-run.

Despite his absence, Chakwera wished Mutharika and his administration success as they take charge of a country facing deep economic challenges.