Malawi’s State Broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), has now confirmed what many people were already saying quietly: former President Peter Mutharika is not in Malawi. He has travelled to South Africa, where he is getting medical treatment.
This was also confirmed by the Department of Immigration, who said Mutharika flew to Johannesburg. So yes, the man is outside the country, and he is receiving medical help.
But this truth has not stopped the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from trying to rewrite the story.
According to Shadrick Namalomba and some loud supporters of the DPP, Mutharika has not left Malawi at all. In fact, they say he is still in the country and is doing perfectly fine. They even went further to say Mutharika has the “heart of a 19-year-old boy” — and that, instead of growing old like normal people, he is becoming younger every day—a claim that would impress even North Korea’s propaganda ministry.
But here in Malawi, facts still matter. The fact is: Mutharika is 84 years old. That is not an insult. It is just the truth. Yes, he has the right to contest in the next election on September 16, 2025. But does that make him a good candidate? That’s a big question.
Many Malawians voted him out in 2020. He failed to fix big problems when he was President. Now he wants to come back — with more years, less energy, and the same old team.
Some DPP supporters seem to believe that only Mutharika can lead Malawi, even if he’s too tired, too old, and clearly out of touch. This is not good for the country. A real political party should look for fresh ideas and new leaders, not just repeat the past.
Let him run if he wants. It is his right. But if he loses — and that’s very likely — he and the DPP should not blame anyone. Malawians are not foolish. They know when it’s time to move forward.
Malawi has many strong people who can lead. It is not only Peter Mutharika who can be President. We must stop acting like the future of our country depends on one tired man. Because it does not.
