Malawi's former president, Peter Mutharika, 85, has been declared the winner of last week's election.

Official results showed Mutharika winning 57 percent of the vote, compared to 33 percent for incumbent Lazarus Chakwera 70.

Chakwera, a pastor before entering politics, admitted defeat before the final results were announced and called Mutharika to congratulate him on winning the "historic election."

Mutharika, a law professor, served as Malawi's president from 2014 to 2020. He was defeated by Chakwera in a landslide in 2020.

The South African country is in the midst of an economic crisis, with fuel and foreign exchange shortages plaguing the country.

The electoral commission said it had been counting votes and hearing complaints for the past eight days.

Mutharika was initially declared the winner of the 2019 election, but the country's highest court annulled the results and ordered a new election next year.

The new president is expected to be sworn in within the next 30 days, in accordance with the country's law.