Lazarus Chakwera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lazarus Chakwera
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Chakwera in 2022
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| 6th President of Malawi | |
| Assumed office 28 June 2020 |
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| Vice President | Saulos Chilima (2020–2024) Michael Usi (2024–present) |
| Preceded by | Peter Mutharika |
| Cabinet of Malawi | |
| In office 28 June 2020 – 31 January 2023 |
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| President | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Harry Mkandawire |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office May 2014 – February 2019 |
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| Preceded by | John Tembo |
| Succeeded by | Lobin Lowe |
| Member of the National Assembly for Lilongwe North West |
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| In office May 2014 – May 2019 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
5 April 1955 Lilongwe, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Malawi) |
| Political party | Malawi Congress Party |
| Spouse |
Monica Chakwera
(m. 1977) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Malawi University of the North University of South Africa Trinity International University |
Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is a well-known politician and religious leader from Malawi. He served as the 6th President of Malawi from June 2020 until September 2025. Before becoming president, he led the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) starting in 2013. He was also the president of the Malawi Assemblies of God, a large Christian organization, from 1989 to 2013.
As the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Malawi, he played an important role in Malawi's politics. He became president after a special election in 2020. In August 2021, he was chosen to be the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a group of countries in Southern Africa. In September 2025, he ran for president again but was not reelected.
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About Lazarus Chakwera's Early Life
Lazarus Chakwera was born on April 5, 1955, in a place called Malembo, near the city of Lilongwe, Malawi. At that time, Malawi was known as Nyasaland and was under British rule. His father worked as a primary school teacher and also farmed to help support their family.
Lazarus married Monica Chakwera on October 8, 1977. They have four children together: one son and three daughters.
Lazarus Chakwera's Education Journey
Lazarus Chakwera studied at several universities. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Malawi in 1977. He then focused on theology, getting an Honours degree from the University of the North in South Africa. In 1991, he received a master's degree from the University of South Africa.
Later, in 2000, Trinity International University in the United States awarded him a doctorate degree. He continued his academic career and became a professor at the Pan-Africa Theological Seminary in 2005.
Lazarus Chakwera's Religious Leadership
Before entering politics, Lazarus Chakwera had a long and respected career as a religious leader. From 1983 to 2000, he worked as an instructor at the Assemblies of God's School of Theology. He became the principal of the school in 1996. He also served as a co-director and lecturer at the All Nations Theological Seminary.
From 1989 to 2013, he was the president of the Malawi Assemblies of God. This is a significant leadership role within a large Christian denomination in Malawi. In April 2013, he announced his decision to run for president with the opposition Malawi Congress Party. This decision surprised many people at the time.
Lazarus Chakwera's Political Career
News about Chakwera's plans to run for president first appeared in April 2013. He officially submitted his nomination papers while still leading the Malawi Assemblies of God. He was later elected as the president of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in August 2013. He then represented the party in the 2014 general elections.
During the 2014 elections, some people had concerns about the fairness of the results. Chakwera encouraged all Malawians to remain peaceful and accept the outcome. He also served as a Member of Parliament for the Lilongwe North West area.
In May 2013, Chakwera resigned from his role as head of the Malawian Assemblies of God. He explained that this would allow him to focus more on politics. He believed he was still serving God, but in a different way.
Forming the Tonse Alliance
For the June 2020 general elections, Chakwera teamed up with Saulos Chilima, who led the UTM party. They formed a group called the 'Tonse Alliance'. Chilima ran as the vice president. This alliance was formed after a court ruled that the 2019 general elections had many problems.
Chakwera won the 2020 election, defeating the sitting president, Peter Mutharika. He received almost 59% of the votes. On June 28, 2020, Chakwera was sworn in as the sixth president of Malawi. Malawi became the first African country where a presidential election result was changed by a court, and then an opposition leader won the new election.
Lazarus Chakwera's Presidency
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Cabinet Appointments and Public Concerns
After becoming president, Chakwera faced some criticism regarding his cabinet appointments. A cabinet is a group of important government ministers who help the president. Some people noted that several members of his 31-person cabinet were related to each other.
There were also concerns about gender balance in public service roles. Groups working for gender equality protested in October 2020. They said that President Chakwera's appointments did not include enough women, which went against Malawi's Gender Equality Act. These groups raised their concerns and took legal action, and the matter is still being reviewed.
Reducing Presidential Powers
President Chakwera stated that he worked to reduce some of the president's powers. This was to make sure the president was more accountable to the people. It also aimed to strengthen other parts of the government, like the parliament and courts.
Leading the SADC Group
In August 2021, Lazarus Chakwera was chosen to be the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). SADC is a group of countries in Southern Africa that work together on important issues. He took over this leadership role from the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi.
Appointments and Public Discussion
President Chakwera also faced public discussion about some diplomatic appointments. His daughter, Violet Chakwera, was appointed to a role representing Malawi in Brussels and for the European Union. There were reports that she might not have the right qualifications for the job. The president strongly denied these reports, saying they were not true.
Foreign Policy and International Relations
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President Chakwera built strong relationships with leaders from other countries. He worked closely with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. They discussed ways to help Malawi grow, especially by using environmentally friendly technologies.
He also praised Zambia for its peaceful transfer of power after the 2021 general election. He said that peaceful changes in leadership in the region were something to be proud of.
Domestic Policy and Economic Measures
On November 16, 2023, President Chakwera announced several steps to help Malawi's economy. The country was facing economic difficulties, and the value of its currency, the Malawian Kwacha, had decreased. Malawi also agreed to borrow money from an international financial group to help boost its economy.
To save money, Chakwera immediately stopped all international travel for himself and his government officials. He also ordered ministers who were abroad to return home. Fuel allowances for senior government officials were cut by half. Additionally, he ordered a reduction in income tax for individuals to help people with the cost of living.
Reelection Outcome
Lazarus Chakwera ran for a second term as president in the 2025 Malawian general election on September 16, 2025. However, he lost the election to his predecessor, Peter Mutharika, who received more than 60% of the votes.
See also
In Spanish: Lazarus Chakwera para niños
