Wantam is Reality! Gachagua Hails Mutharika Win, Says It’s A Clear Warning to Ruto

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has praised the election victory of Malawi’s President-elect Prof. Peter Mutharika, declaring it a wake-up call for corrupt and authoritarian leaders across Africa — including Kenya’s President William Ruto.

In a statement released on Thursday, Gachagua described Mutharika’s win in the September 16 election as a “continental statement” affirming the supremacy of the people’s will through the ballot.

“It is a declaration that Africa, the rising continent and home to 1.5 billion people, is no longer a playground for religious hypocrisy, conmanship, corruption, pathological lies, dictatorship, and self-serving regimes,” Gachagua said.

He argued that Malawi’s poll proved the resilience of democracy, warning leaders who cling to power that “their days are numbered.”

Citing the downfall of historical African strongmen, Gachagua stressed that the era of unchecked oligarchy had collapsed under “the weight of people’s power.”

Turning his focus to Kenya, the former DP urged citizens to take inspiration from Malawians ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“Malawi has reminded us that African citizens are awake. They see. They feel. They think. They act. The will of the people is supreme,” he said.

“I call on the people of the republic of Kenya to draw strength from Malawi’s courage and reclaim our future through democratic means. The will of the people is supreme. WANTAM IS A REALITY!”

Gachagua also commended outgoing Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera for conceding defeat and congratulating Mutharika, describing the gesture as a mark of political maturity.

Mutharika, 85, secured victory after defeating Chakwera, who conceded on September 24 just hours before Malawi’s electoral commission declared the official results.

His comeback campaign leaned on his past record of infrastructure expansion and economic stabilisation, though critics recalled his previous tenure was marred by allegations of cronyism.

Chakwera’s loss came amid widespread public frustration over Malawi’s battered economy, with inflation peaking at 33 percent and food prices soaring in the agriculture-dependent nation.

Gachagua’s remarks, while framed as a congratulatory message, carried a pointed warning for President Ruto’s administration, underscoring his sharpening attacks as the country edges closer to the 2027 political contest.