President Peter Mutharika marked his return to power yesterday with a thunderous, unmistakable message: the era of State looting is over.
Delivering his inaugural address under the grey October skies at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, the President pledged a government defined by discipline, accountability and the pain of necessary economic reforms.
Standing on a podium draped in Malawi’s national colours, he declared a decisive war on corruption and abuse of office.
“The honeymoon of looting is over,” Mutharika warned. “You are now dealing with a different President. If I find you stealing public resources, you are gone, whether you are a businessman, politician or civil servant.”
His speech outlined a sharp break from recent past administrations, focusing on restoring public trust and rebuilding the economy. Acknowledging the country’s dire economic state—marked by foreign exchange shortages, soaring cost of living and widespread despair—he insisted the crisis was man-made and solvable.
“The only way to rebuild this country is to make tough decisions,” Mutharika stated. “Above all, I ask for your patience. In the end, we will be happy that we have a country that nourishes our dreams and the aspirations of our children.”
Ceremony of power and absence
Despite the threat of rain, thousands of Malawians and foreign dignitaries gathered at Kamuzu Stadium to witness the swearing-in ceremony.
The event was rich with military pageantry, featuring a formal parade, a resounding 21-gun salute and vibrant traditional dances.
The stadium, awash in the blue of Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), echoed with songs of praise and chants of “Ona pangolini.” Vice-President Jane Ansah was first to take the oath, administered by Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda.
At exactly 11:08 am, Mutharika followed, flanked by First Lady Gertrude Mutharika. He was officially handed the national flag, coat of arms, presidential standard, and the sword of command, symbols of his renewed authority as Commander-in-Chief.
Former presidents Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda were present, alongside former vice-presidents Michael Usi, Khumbo Kachali and Cassim Chilumpha.
However, the ceremony was marked by the noticeable absence of Mutharika’s predecessor, Lazarus Chakwera.
Chakwera’s party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), swiftly issued a statement signed by publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila, claiming a last-minute programme change had omitted his name, leading him to extend congratulations remotely instead.
International dignitaries included Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo and Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as representatives from Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Eswatini, Angola and Kenya.
Political analysts Ernest Thindwa and George Chaima welcomed Mutharika’s tough stance on corruption, urging him to uphold the rule of law and avoid shielding political allies.
Thindwa stressed the urgent need for a clear economic recovery plan, warning that politically painful decisions must be made early in the term before political pressures mount.
“The government must move away from unsustainable subsidies like free fertiliser,” Thindwa stated. “The economy simply cannot afford them.”
Rex Mahaya, a supporter from Thyolo, expressed optimism: “Mutharika’s record gives me confidence. I believe this administration will bring development across the country.”
Later in the day, at a luncheon hosted for delegates at Sunbird Mount Soche, Mutharika reiterated his call for unity and spoke emotionally about his motivation to run again after his unceremonious removal from power following the disputed
