by Raphael Mweninguwe
President Bingu wa Mutharika has been sworn in for his second and final five-year term in office after a landslide victory in the general elections that were held on May 19.
The swearing in ceremony took place on Friday, May 22 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital.
Presidend Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Rupia Banda of Zambia were among the regional leaders who attended the function.
Mutharika's Democratic Progresive Party (DPP) has won about 120 Parliamentary seats out of the 193 seats.
The main opposition Malawi Congres Party (MCP) which was represented in the presidential race by John Tembo lost miserably getting around 15 seats in the Parliament. The MCP leader lost to Mutharika who got 2.7 million votes while Tembo got 1.3 million votes. There were 5.9 million registered voters.
Tembo who was in an electoral alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF) has refused to accept the results saying the ruling party has rigged.
Ironically, Muluzi of UDF attended the swearing in ceremony and conceeded defeat though he was not standing but his party was in alliance with MCP.
PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS
Malawians are expecting a lot from the president whose first five years in office faced a lot of opposition MPs in Parliament who were in majority.
Voters protested against opposition members of parliament who rejected most of the bills put forward by government.
"Mutharika will have no excuse this time. We want him to deliver on his promises," said Jane Phiri, a nurse at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city.
Phiri said Mutharika faces tough times ahead and that the country expects a lot from him.
"I voted him because he said he would build houses for the youth and create jobs," said a 26 year-old unemployed school leaver, Jef Mwale.
Mwale said government should live by its promises and that it should not take people for a ride.
In his inaugural speech Mutharika said his government will implement all its promises. Among them are food security, youth loan of US$1.4 million, free adult literacy education, clean portable water and
quality education.
He also called on the opposition parties to work with him for the good of the nation. He said his administion would work with anyone regardless of political affiliation.
"May I ask all opposition parties to forget about the past and work together for the good of the nation. This country belongs to us all," said Mutharika.
Mutharika is aware that failure to implement the promises his government will be voted out of power come 2014.
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