Malawi: Beating Plowshares Into Swords

President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was sworn in on June 28, 2020, ushering in a new administration in Malawi after a constitutional court ruling that led to fresh elections. His speech was rich in prose as well as in revolutionary tone and content. Chakwere took power as the candidate of the Tonse Alliance which unified his and Vice President Saulos Chilima's UTM party among others. The speech not only presented the Tonse Alliance as the 'Deux Machina' but also inflated the hopes and expectations of Malawians who had in previous months braved police teargas and cold weather as they demonstrated for political change in the country. The President promised 'servant leadership' as he took the country to the 'promised land of Canaan.' The Alliance promised a “Malawi wokomera Tonse” which translates as 'Malawi prospering together.' Two years later, it is yet to be seen if a revolution has occurred or the speech was just empty rhetoric.