BLANTYRE (Reuters) -Malawi’s Peter Mutharika vowed to root out government corruption and rebuild an ailing economy after he was sworn in on Saturday for a second term as president of the southern African nation.

Mutharika, 85, secured more than 56% of votes last month, defeating outgoing president Lazarus Chakwera, 70, who took 33%. Voters rejected Chakwera after five years of worsening economic crisis in one of the world’s poorest countries.

The September 16 vote marked the fourth presidential contest between Mutharika and Chakwera.

CEREMONY IN BLANTYRE DRAWS LARGE CROWD

Mutharika took the oath of office in a stadium in the commercial city of Blantyre packed with supporters dressed in the Democratic Progressive Party’s blue and white colours, as well as government officials and Africa

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