Chakwera fact file: Malawi presidential hopeful
Malawi Congress Party’s president-elect, Reverend Dr.Lazarus Chakwera was born in Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi on April 5, 1955.
He was born to a subsistence farmer in the outskirts of the city.
Two of his brothers born before him died in infancy due to high infant mortality rate.
His father, believing that he would live gave him the name Lazarus as the Bible character who was raised from the dead.
In 1977, he graduated with a bachelor of arts (philosophy) degree from the University of Malawi and got his honours degree (BTh) from the University of the North, Sovenga, South Africa. In 1991, he got his masters (MTh) from University of South Africa. Trinity International University, in Deerfield, Illinois, USA, awarded him a doctorate (D. Min) in 2000. He later earned his professorship from the Pan Africa Theological Seminary in 2005.
Chakwera has worked as an instructor at the Assemblies of God School of Theology from 1983 to 2000. In 1996, he was made principal of the school. He has been a co-director and a lecturer at All Nations Theological Seminary. Since 1989 to date, he has been at the helm of Malawi Assemblies of God.
On April 14 2013, he took many by surprise when he declared his intention to run for MCP presidency and resigned as head of the Malawi Assemblies of God effective May 14 2013 to concentrate on his political career.
To win the presidency, Chakwera will have to outwit President Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP), United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Atupele Muluzi, Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Peter Mutharika and other contestants from what are considered little knownparties.
Chakwera is married to Monica and together they have four children and eight grandchildren.
