Blantyre – Malawi’s newly elected President Peter Mutharika has called on all Malawians to unite, forget the past and work together to turn the country's economy around.
President Mutharika made the call in his inaugural speech in Blantyre on Monday where thousands gathered to witness the handing over of power to the new leader.
He said he was very happy that the day had come for him to take over leadership of the country but he regretted that his predecessor, Joyce Banda, had not come to the event to hand over power.
Instead, the Malawi Army Commander, Henry Odillo, presented the Sword of Command to the new Malawi leader.
"I regret that my predecessor, Joyce Banda, has declined to come and hand over power, I was looking forward to shaking her hand," said President Mutharika.
He recalled that he and the Mutharika family had been victimized in several ways but he said he had no intention to avenge.
"I want to call on all Malawians to forgive each other if we offended each other. We need to move forward and forget about the past," he said.
President Mutharika said he looked forward to inviting all the eleven competitors one by one to discuss how best to develop Malawi, saying they all had interesting ideas, most of which the now ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would adopt.
On the infamous plunder of public resources which the media dubbed "Cashgate," he said his government would institute zero tolerance on corruption by strengthening the anti-corruption bureau, the police and other law-enforcement bodies.
He further pledged to establish a lean cabinet of 20 ministers and deputy ministers in order to save money for social services.
On foreign policy, the new Malawi President said his government would strengthen relations with countries such as China, Brazil, India and South Africa, among others and he invited foreign investors to come to Malawi saying: "there is room for everyone."
He also pledged to introduce subsidy on iron sheets and cement for people in the rural areas to have better houses.
President Mutharika, 74, on 30 May was declared the winner of the polls and was sworn-in the next day to become the country's fifth president. - SAnews.gov.za –Xinhua
