* We are pleased to confirm that Prof. Mutharika is in excellent health and is simply taking time for private business
* He remains fully committed to returning home soon to continue providing strong leadership within our party
* And to prepare for the forthcoming general elections on September 16–DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito
By Duncan Mlanjira
News was rife on social media that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president, Peter Mutharika has travelled to South Africa for medial attention, but the secretary general, Peter Mukhito, says in a statement that he “is in excellent health and is simply taking time for private business”.
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Mukhito says Mutharika undertook a private visit to South Africa traveling via a scheduled public flight with Malawian Airlines from Chileka International Airport and “this mode of travel underscores the transparency and legitimacy of the trip, which bears no secrecy or cause for public concern”.
“We are, however, deeply concerned by the emergence of a coordinated misinformation campaign — allegedly led by a sitting government minister and amplified through the mercenary Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
“The use of state-owned media to disseminate misleading narratives is regrettable and reflects a troubling departure from principles of responsible governance and press integrity,” says Mukhito.
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He adds that Mutharika “is in excellent health and is simply taking time for private business” and that “he remains fully committed to returning home soon to continue providing strong leadership within the party and to prepare for the forthcoming general elections on September 16”.
“His unwavering dedication to the development and progress of our nation remains unchanged. We call upon all our supporters and the wider Malawian public to remain calm, focused, and united.
“Let us reject sensationalism and falsehoods, and instead, uphold the values and vision of the Democratic Progressive Party as we work collectively toward a better and more prosperous Malawi,” says Mukhito in the statement.
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There is very hot debate on 83-year-old Mutharika as presidential candidate for the September 16 elections which led to a proposed amendment to Section 80(6) of the Constitution of Malawi, that seeks to introduce a 75-year age limit for presidential candidates political proponents, led by the Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP).
In Parliament sitting last February, Leader of Opposition, George Chaponda described it as “retrogressive” and vowed to block MCP proposed age limit bill, which he said aims to bar Mutharika from contesting in the 2025 presidential elections.
