President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who also serves as the Chairperson of the African Union, has congratulated Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on his election as President of Malawi. Ramaphosa praised all stakeholders for ensuring a successful election that followed a court ruling in January calling for new elections. He also commended the people of Malawi for conducting peaceful elections that strengthened democracy in the country. Finally, Ramaphosa reaffirmed the African Union's commitment to closer cooperation with Malawi's government to boost economic development and integration.

1. MEDIA STATEMENT
TO : ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS
DATE : SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2020
PRESIDENTRAMAPHOSA CONGRATULATESDR LAZARUS CHAKWERA ON HIS ELECTION AS PRESIDENTOF
MALAWI
Chairpersonof the AfricaUnionHisExcellencyCyril Ramaphosa,Presidentof the Republicof South
Africahas offeredhiscongratulationstoDr.
Lazarus Chakweraonhiselectionasthe Presidentof the Republicof Malawi.
PresidentRamaphosahasfurthermorecongratulatedall stakeholdersforthe successof thishistoric
electionwhich followedaMalawi ConstitutionalCourtjudgementon03 January2020 whichcalledfor
newelectionstobe held.Malawiansreturnedtothe pollson23 June 2020.
PresidentRamaphosahascommendedandcongratulatedthe people of Malawi forconductingpeaceful
electionswhichhave servedtodeependemocracyinMalawi.
The AU Chairpersonconcludedhiscongratulatorymessage byre-committingthe Uniontocontinued
closerworkingtieswiththe Governmentof Malawi toenhance cooperationandpayparticularattention
to strengtheningeconomicdevelopmentandintegration.
Mediaenquiries:KhuselaDiko -
media@presidency.gov.za
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCYOF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ANDAFRICAN UNION CHAIR.