Former President Mutharika wins Malawi election to oust longtime rival Chakwera

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Former President Peter Mutharika was declared the winner of Malawi's election Wednesday, ousting incumbent Lazarus Chakwera to return as leader of one of Africa's poorest countries.

Chakwera conceded defeat in a speech on national television hours before the final results were announced, and supporters of Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party had already gathered in the streets of the commercial capital, Blantyre, to celebrate.

The 85-year-old Mutharika, who was president from 2014-2020, won 56% of the vote, according to the Malawi Electoral Commission. Chakwera was second with 33%.

The winning candidate needed to receive more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.

“This outcome is a reflection of your collective will to have a change of government, and so it is only right that I concede defeat out of respect for your will as citizens and out of respect for the constitution,” Chakwera said in his earlier address to Malawians conceding defeat.

Mutharika's return to the presidency came after he lost to Chakwera in a historic election rerun five years ago. As president he was initially declared the winner of a 2019 vote, but that election was nullified months later by a court and ordered to be redone because of irregularities.

Chakwera won the redo in 2020, and Mutharika became the first leader in Africa to be removed from office in an election rerun.

Chakwera’s 2020 election was also greeted at the time by street celebrations. But the 70-year-old former evangelical preacher lost popularity in his first term, largely due to an ongoing economic crisis in a country of 21 million in southern Africa already struggling as one of the least developed in the world.

The economy was seen as the main issue for voters, who had grown weary of the soaring cost-of-living and fuel and food shortages.

Inflation has shot up to over 27%, while a devastating cyclone in 2023 and a drought last year worsened hardship. More than 80% of the population in Malawi live rurally and rely on agriculture.

Mutharika, a law professor, had campaigned on promises of fixing the economy and restoring what his party framed as his experienced leadership, though his first term was marked by allegations of corruption and public discontent over food shortages and electricity outages.

He has a long history in Malawian politics having served in the Cabinet when his older brother was president. Mutharika’s brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, was president from 2004 until his death in office in 2012.

A total of 17 candidates ran in last Tuesday’s election, including another former president Joyce Banda. But analysts always saw it as a race between Chakwera and his predecessor Mutharika, who have met in elections in 2014, 2019, 2020 and this year.

Chakwera said that he had spoken with Mutharika to congratulate him. He added that his Malawi Congress Party would accept the outcome of the vote despite complaints in recent days from several parties, including MCP, of irregularities in some voting districts.

The head of the Malawi Electoral Commission that oversaw the election said that it had resolved all those complaints and didn't report any major problems.

Malawians also voted for the makeup of Parliament and more than 500 local government representatives.

Malawi gained international attention last year when a military plane crash killed 51-year-old Vice President Saulos Chilima, who was popular with young Malawians and seen as a leader in waiting.

A former British protectorate that won independence in 1964, the country was ruled for 30 years by the autocratic Hastings Banda until 1994. It has developed a peaceful multiparty democracy over the last two decades.

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

CAPTION CORRECTS PARTY SUPPORT - Supporters of former President Peter Mutharika celebrate in Blantyre, Malawi, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

CAPTION CORRECTS PARTY SUPPORT - Supporters of former President Peter Mutharika celebrate in Blantyre, Malawi, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Supporters of former President Peter Mutharika celebrate after his opponent concedes election to Mutharika, in Blantyre, Malawi, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

A woman sells vegetables in Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Women walk at a market in Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

People line up to cast their votes in Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Malawi's presidential candidate, former President Peter Mutharika, right, shares a light moment with officials following casting his vote in Thyolo District, Malawi, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera, right, and his wife wave during a campaign rally in Blantyre, Malawi, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

PHOENIX (AP) — Ta'Niya Latson scored 16 and Agot Makeer added 14 points and South Carolina played stifling defense to beat UConn 62-48 on Friday night, ending the Huskies' 54-game winning streak and advancing to the women's NCAA Tournament championship game.

The Gamecocks will face the winner of Texas and UCLA semifinal on Sunday for the title, capping off another March Madness. South Carolina (36-3) will be looking to win its fourth national championship. Their other three have come in the last decade.

UConn (38-1) entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history and for the third straight time left without a title. The Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals. This was the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 points in a national championship game loss to the Gamecocks in 2022.

The Huskies and Gamecocks played last season for the title and UConn came away with an 82-59 rout for the school’s 12th national championship. UConn also beat South Carolina handily during the 2024-25 regular season.

With less than a second remaining in the game, UConn coach Geno Auriemma walked across the court to shake hands with Dawn Staley and had an animated conversation with the South Carolina coach while pointing to the floor. Staley yelled back at him as assistants from both teams separated the two.

When the clock ran out finally, Auriemma walked straight to the tunnel and didn’t shake hands. The two teams did shake hands.

The teams came into the game as the second- and third-leading scoring teams in the nation, both averaging over 87 points per game. This was a defensive battle.

Leading 46-44 a few minutes into the third quarter, South Carolina scored five straight points, capped by Agot Makeer’s 3-pointer to extend the advantage to seven.

Sarah Strong hit a 3-pointer to get the Huskies back within 51-47 with 4:39 left. The Huskies didn't score again until Strong hit a free throw with 30.8 seconds left, after South Carolina had scored 11 straight points.

South Carolina clamped down on UConn’s two stars. Strong, who was honored as the AP Player of the Year on Thursday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds, but went 4 for 16 from the field. Azzi Fudd had just eight points for the Huskies, making only 3 of 15 shots.

UConn had its worst shooting night of the season finishing 19 for 61 (31.1%) from the field.

Trailing 26-24 at the half, South Carolina opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to take the lead. The Gamecocks extended the advantage to 40-30 — the biggest deficit the Huskies’ had faced this season.

UConn, which missed 10 of its first 11 3-point attempts, then started to get hot from the field, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, the last by Fudd to get within 40-39. The All-America guard had missed seven of her first eight shots as she was blanketed by South Carolina’s defense.

South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson scored the final four points of the quarter to make it 44-39.

Both teams had cruised to the Final Four, each winning in the first four rounds of the tournament easily. The Huskies had been rarely challenged all season long, routing their Big East opponents by record margins.

Facing their first real test in a long time, they had no answer.

The opening 20 minutes was full of missed shots and turnovers. The two teams combined to shoot 22 for 62 from the field (35.4%) and had 14 turnovers. UConn led 26-24 at the half.

There were dozens of former Huskies and Gamecocks players in the crowd including Diana Taurasi, Paige Bueckers and Aliyah Boston. Boston was sitting next to Flavor Flav, who is a huge supporter of women’s sports.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) fouls South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

South Carolina guard Agot Makeer (44) and UConn guard Kayleigh Heckel (9) scramble for the ball during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson (00) drives against UConn guard Blanca Quinonez (4) during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson (5) shoots over UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson (00) and South Carolina guard Agot Makeer (44) go for a rebound against UConn during the first half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)