Malawi’s new President Lazarus Chakwera was inaugurated on 6th July 2020 in an invite only attended by 100 guests in the capital Lilongwe.
In an unprecedented move with heavy political undertones, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta by-passed his Deputy William Ruto and picked KANU leader and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to represent Kenya and deliver his congratulatory message at the ceremony.
Senator Moi who is viewed as the Deputy President’s greatest political rival in the Rift Valley was accompanied by the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hon. Ababu Namwamba and other officials.
Chakwera was sworn in on June 28th 2020 for a five-year term, hours after unseating Peter Mutharika in a re-run election, with a formal celebration which would have been heavily attended whittled down by the President as a result of increasing covid 19 cases in the country.
“In view of this accelerating rate of local transmission and its wide geographical spread, I have decided to cancel the celebration to prevent any persons who may be exposed to the virus from spreading it in other parts while travelling.” Said the President adding that the funds of the celebration should be channeled to Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.
Covid-19 cases in Malawi have reached 1,500, with 16 deaths with activists criticizing former President Peter Mutharika’s inadequate response to the pandemic.
