Sources close to files have confided in Shire Times that former President, Arthur Peter Mutharika, is filing for divorce from his wife, Gertrude, following a series of tumultuous months marked by scandals and personal strife.
Filed under the Midima Magistrate Court registry as Civil Case Number 328 of 2024, Mutharika is seeking to end the matrimonial arrangement he has with Gertrude and further get protection restricting her access to his estate which, according to the divorce file, is valued at around MK9.8 billion.
Insiders close to the couple and divorce file claim that their marriage has become untenable due to the ongoing “Cementgate” scandal among others, which Getrude is said to have orchestrated together with her husband’s bodyguard Chisale who enjoyed a close ‘business relationship’ with the then first lady.
According to a trusted family friend who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, “Professor Mutharika has been plagued by problems at home. The TPIN scandal has created an insurmountable rift as he demands answers from Gertrude about how aides like Mukhito and Chisale accessed his sensitive financial credentials.”
The “Cementgate” controversy centers around allegations of criminal misconduct, where Mutharika’s close associates reportedly exploited his Tax Identity Pin (TPIN) to import over 400,000 bags of cement duty-free, an arrangement that allegedly involved significant kickbacks from high-profile Malawian businessmen of Indian descent.
As the fallout from the scandal looms over Mutharika’s aspirations for a political comeback, insiders reveal that he is increasingly concerned about the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution potentially amending the charge sheet to implicate him more heavily, threatening to derail his hopes of returning to power.
On the other end, Gertrude Mutharika is reportedly not taking the divorce lightly. Sources claim she is consulting with attorneys and engaging marriage counselors from the Church of St. Louis Montfort in Balaka in a bid to salvage their troubled union. “She senses the danger of the situation and is preparing herself for the storm, seeking both legal advice and spiritual guidance,” the insider stated.
Efforts to reach Mutharika for comment have been unsuccessful, as he appears to be enveloped in turmoil, with family tensions escalating during this challenging time.
The couple, who tied the knot in June 2014, now find their marriage at a crossroads as personal and political pressures collide, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the once-prominent presidential couple.
