Opposition party wins Malawi’s presidential election

Malawi’s opposition candidate Peter Mutharika has been declared winner of the May 20 elections by the electoral commission.

The Democratic Progressive Party defeated President Joyce Banda, the candidate of the People’s Party, who alleged irregularities in the election.

Mutharika, 74, was announced winner on Friday with 36.4% of the vote to wild jubilation by a crowd celebrated outside the tally center in Blantyre, the commercial hub of Malawi.

Banda, southern Africa’s first female president, came third with 20.2%, behind Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party who scored 27.8%.

Mutharika is the brother of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in 2012 to pave the way for Banda, then vice-president.

On May 24 Banda ordered the parliamentary and presidential elections cancelled, allegeing irregularities.

The High Court immediately issued an injunction to annul Banda’s pronouncement.