This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
Malawi's new President Lazarus Chakwera has a unique background as a former evangelical preacher who says he was called into politics by God.
Chakwera, 65, has been leading Malawi's oldest party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), for the past seven years. The MCP ruled the country for three decades from 1964 to 1994 under dictator Hastings Banda's one-party rule.
Chakwera's journey into politics began when he was called to lead the party in the 2014 elections, where he came second to Peter Mutharika at the polls. He contested again last year, but the vote was subsequently annulled due to widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid to tamper with result sheets.
Chakwera's determination paid off when the Malawi's top court overturned the election, and a re-run was ordered. He swept to victory, winning over 58 percent of the vote according to the election commission.
"The people want change. They're demanding change and they see us as the face of change," Chakwera told AFP in a recent interview.
Chakwera's background is rooted in his Christian faith. He was born in Lilongwe to a subsistence farmer and was named Lazarus after the biblical character who was raised from the dead. He took degrees in philosophy and theology and was president of the Malawi Assemblies of God from 1989 to 2013.
Chakwera's charismatic personality and strong American accent have made him a compelling figure in Malawian politics. He loves reading and music, and is known to sing gospel songs in his free time.
