Mutharika Says ‘Get used to my presidency’

President Peter Mutharika has urged opposition parties to accept defeat in the May 21 disputed presidential elections and should get used to his presidency.

Mutharika said this during his thank you rally in the eastern region following his victory in the May 21 ‘Tipp-ex’ elections at St. Augustine in Mangochi.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima, who is also the country’s immediate past vice-president, are challenging the May 21 presidential election results that were marred by use of Tippex by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in altering figures on results sheets.

Chakwera and Chilima filed the case against MEC in court, and the court included Mutharika as to the petition with MEC.

In his remarks Mutharika said the opposition, particularly MCP should stop perpetrating post-election violence, describing the development as retrogressive to the socio-economic development of the country.

“My message to everyone is that whether you like it or not, I am your president – you just have to get used to it; In fact, I invite you all to come and join me in building this nation,” Mutharika said.

On May 27 MEC declared Mutharika a winner of the presidential polls, followed by MCP’s Lazarus Chakwera, Chilima of UTM trailing on the third position, with 38.57, 35.41 and 20.24 percent respectively.