President Peter Mutharika’s private trip to South Africa has courted mixed reactions from different stakeholders with some demanding transparency on the purpose of the visit.
A press release from Chief Secretary Justin Saidi signed on 30th November 2025, disclosed that Mutharika will depart Malawi on 1st December at 1400hrs from Bakili Muluzi International Airport in Blantyre without indicating further details of his date of return.
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Spokesperson Jessie Kabwila criticized government’s failure for not disclosing what the President will be doing in South Africa adding that this is the first time this has happened.
“Malawians deserve to be informed on every detail of the President’s itinerary outside the country because it involves the use of taxpayers’ money”
Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa expressed deep concern and disappointment over the First Citizen’s private visit to the rainbow nation.
He further bemoaned the lack of transparency on the matter which he noted raises serious questions on the President’s health and ability to lead the nation.
“Leaders have a constitutional duty to act in the best interests of the people. In light of this, we demand that President Mutharika provides a full and transparent account of his trip, including the purpose of his visit.
“Furthermore, we emphasize that Malawians deserve to know the details of the trip as it is being paid for with taxpayers’ money. It is unacceptable that the country is shouldering the expenses of the President’s trip without being privy to its purpose or its nature.
“Malawi is facing serious financial challenges, and it is irresponsible for the President to indulge in lavish foreign trips under the guise of “private visits”. Reads the press release.
However private practice lawyer Sylvester Ayuba James has branded those questioning the trip as dull and that they will never change.
“These people are so daft and can’t be changed in any way as the brain is the only organ which is fully developed once a person is born with no room for further development and improvement. Being dull is an illness which even an operation cannot cure”
He further expressed surprise with the continued attacks on Mutharika’s health which he said has not yielded any results in the past but only worked to the disadvantage of the former governing MCP.