Malawi held an investiture for President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima on Sunday, hours after the elections body declared Chakwera winner of the June 23 polls.

In his inaugural speech, Chakwera struck a conciliatory tone, promising to be president for all Malawians whether they voted for him or not.

The new president is a philosopher, theologian and clergyman by training and studied in Malawi, South Africa and the United States.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) late Saturday declared Chakwera as the winner of the June 23 election.

Making the declaration, commission chair Justice Chifundo Kachale announced that Chakwera, leader of the Tonse Alliance, bagged 2,604,043 votes, representing 58.5 percent of the total votes cast.