Cape Town – Hundreds of Malawians in Johannesburg celebrated the election of their president, Peter Mutharika, with a night-long street march through the CBD, dancing, chanting, and waving Malawi’s flag.
Mutharika was re-elected to head the southern African country with nearly 57 percent of votes, the election authority announced on Wednesday last week, following polls dominated by soaring living costs.
President Lazarus Chakwera came second with 33 percent of ballots in the September 16 vote, the electoral commission said, hours after the incumbent had conceded defeat admitting his rival had an “insurmountable lead”.
Supporters of Mutharika, 85, and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took to the streets in celebration after Chakwera acknowledged in an address to the nation that he had lost his bid for a second term.
The late-night celebration in Johannesburg sparked debate over South Africa’s immigration enforcement, with locals criticising the absence of authorities and questioning whether undocumented migrants were freely moving at night.
Social media reactions highlighted frustrations over road blockages, perceived lawlessness, and the laxity of Home Affairs.
[WATCH] Hundreds of Malawian nationals took to the streets of Johannesburg CBD at night, singing and marching to celebrate their newly elected president aged 85, Peter Mutharika.
The crowd blocked traffic, leaving no space for vehicles. Many observers believe a significant… pic.twitter.com/siUTb4R03P
— THE TRUTH PANTHER 🇿🇦 (@TheTruthPanther) October 5, 2025
Johannesburg hosts a large Malawian community, many of whom work in informal trading and maintain close-knit support networks.
Mutharika, president between 2014 and 2020, campaigned on pledges of a “return to proven leadership” that criticised Chakwera’s handling of the battered economy during his term, when Malawi also suffered drought and cyclones.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
