Malawi’s Dr Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in for a five-year term on Sunday as the Country’s 6th President. He has been leader of the Malawi Congress Party since 2013 and was previously Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly following highly controversial elections held on 21 May 2019 which were overturned by the Constitutional Court. He was President of the Malawi Assemblies of God from 1989 to 14 May 2013.

Chakwera, 65, won 58.57% of the vote in the re-run election which was as a result of the May 2019 election where President Mutharika’s controversial victory was overturned by the courts.

Quotes from Dr Chakwera Speech: 

"Chakwera: Am duty bound to give you my best"

"Chakwera: I know there many of you who didn't vote me and the prospect of my presidency give you fear, i want you know that my administration will strive to give equal opportunities for all of us together. "

Dr Chakwera Arrival 

Lazarus Chakwera was born in Lilongwe, the current capital of Malawi, on 5 April 1955.

Theological career

Dr Chakwera graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) Degree from the University of Malawi in 1977. He later studied theology and gained an Honours Degree from the University of the North in South Africa and gained a Master's Degree from the University of South Africa in 1991. The Trinity International University in the United States awarded him a doctorate (D. Min) in 2000. He became a Professor at the Pan-Africa Theological Seminary in 2005.
He has worked as an instructor at the Assemblies of God School of Theology from 1983 to 2000 where he became the Principal in 1996. He has been the co-director and a lecturer at All Nations Theological Seminary.

Dr Chakwera Swearing in

Dr Chilima Swearing in

Africa Team