Lilongwe (Malawi) (AFP) — Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat Wednesday in last week’s election, saying in an address to the nation that it was clear his rival and predecessor, Peter Mutharika, had an “insurmountable lead”.

The dire state of the economy in the small southern African country of 21 million people dominated the September 16 vote, with critics accusing Chakwera of mismanagement and indecisiveness during his first term.

“A moment ago, I called Professor Mutharika directly to congratulate him on his historic victory and to wish him well,” Chakwera said just hours before the election authority was due to announce the final results of the vote.

Even ahead of the announcement, “it was clear that my main rival Peter Mutharika had already secured an insurmountable

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