Monthly Archives: June 2020

Opposition takes power in Malawi after historic election rerun

África, Eleição Presidencial, Malawi

Via: Aljazeera

Lazarus Chakwera, a Pentecostal pastor-turned-politician, was inaugurated as Malawi’s president after winning the first opposition victory in an election rerun in African history. Mr Chakwera took the oath of office in Lilongwe, the landlocked south-east African nation’s capital, on Sunday. He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58 per cent of the vote following Tuesday’s poll. Malawian judges ordered a rerun after they ruled that fraud, including the use of Tipp-Ex correction fluid to alter tallies, marred Mr Mutharika’s re-election a year ago.

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Tanzania’s John Magufuli dissolves Parliament ahead of elections

África, Crise Política, Tanzânia

Via: Aljazeera

Tanzania’s parliament has been dissolved ahead of elections due in October, with President John Magufuli pledging a “free and fair” vote in a country where the opposition has decried a climate of fear and violence. Magufuli, who took office in 2015 promising a crackdown on corruption but whose time in office has drawn criticism by rights groups, urged all political parties to “avoid insults and violence” while campaigning. The dissolution comes just days after Tanzanian opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, who has announced his intention to run against Magufuli, was allegedly beaten and hospitalised in what his Chadema party said was a “politically-motivated” attack.

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Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza dies

África, Burundi

Via: Aljazeera

Burundi’s government has announced the sudden death of President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader who took office following a bloody civil war in 2005. He was 55. In a statement on Tuesday, the government said Nkurunziza had died of heart failure. It came just weeks before the president was meant to hand over power to political ally Evariste Ndayishimiye, the winner of last month’s presidential election, bringing down the curtain on a 15-year reign whose latter part was marked by political violence and increasing criticism over the government’s response to dissent.

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