Opposition Malawi Congress Party president Lazarus Chakwera has won historic fresh presidential election.

Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale announced on Saturday that Chakwera who is also leader of Tonse Alliance, amassed 2,604,43 votes representing 58.57 percent of the total votes cast.

Incumbent President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party came a distant second with 1,751,377 votes, while Mbakuwaku Movement for Democracy president Peter Kuwani got 32,456.

Chakwera is Malawi’s sixth president after winning the court ordered fresh election.

There were jubilant scenes in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu following the announcement as Tonse Alliance supporters sounded car horns, waved flags and let off fireworks.

Mutharika in denial

Earlier on Saturday President Mutharika described the election “the worst in Malawi’s history.”

“Sadly, as all Malawians have seen, this election is the worst in Malawi’s history of our elections,” he said.

“We believe most of the results that were sent to MEC are not a true reflection of the people.”

Mutharika alleged that his party’s monitors were chased away from polling stations, beaten and intimidated on polling day.

He also added that the party’s monitors are missing.

His party also lodged official complaint to the Electoral Commission calling for a rerun claiming “massive irregularities” in the election.