Malawi's Absent President: Opposition Asks Who Is Running the Country

Malawi's Absent President: Opposition Asks Who Is Running the Country

An 86-year-old president, gone for over two weeks

Malawi's opposition demanded answers on 23 October over President Peter Mutharika's prolonged stay in South Africa. The 86-year-old left Malawi on 6 October on what officials called a private visit, and more than two weeks later no return date has been announced. It is his fifth trip to South Africa this year, with only sparse details released about each one.

Opposition turns to the vice-president for reassurance

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) campaign director Moses Kunkuyu told journalists in Lilongwe that the opposition was not challenging the president's right to travel. Instead, he urged Vice-President Jane Ansah to address the nation. "The issue is not that the president has traveled," he said. "The issue is that people are suffering and want reassurance that somebody is in charge." He asked the government to explain who is managing state affairs and how it plans to tackle the fuel and power crises.

Fuel queues, blackouts and drug shortages bite

Malawi is going through a difficult stretch: motorists queue for fuel as a foreign-currency shortage disrupts imports, electricity blackouts persist, and public hospitals report shortages of essential medicines. The MCP called the moment "critical" and said it demands decisive action, arguing that citizens should not be left guessing while living costs climb.

"A private trip is private," says the government

Information Minister Shadric Namalomba declined to give the purpose of the visit, saying: "A private trip is private." He denied any leadership vacuum, insisting the president remains in charge of government business wherever he is and is not incapacitated, so there is no need for the vice-president to step in. He accused the opposition of exploiting difficulties that, in his account, built up under the previous administration.

India treatment rumours denied, health questions linger

Earlier this month officials dismissed social media claims that Mutharika had flown from South Africa to India for medical treatment. Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi said the president remained in South Africa and urged the public to rely on verified information. Mutharika has previously dismissed health speculation as "silly and laughable," insisting he is well. But with no reason given for the trip and no return date, the speculation has not gone away.

One year back in office, five trips abroad

Mutharika returned to power last October after defeating former president Lazarus Chakwera, having previously served from 2014 to 2020. He marked a year back in office on 4 October. Public records cited by Malawian media list five departures, all described as private: about 14 days from 1 December 2025, 11 days from 1 March, 17 days from 12 June, 11 days from 5 August, and the ongoing visit since 6 October. The opposition's question now is what comes next: whether the vice-president will speak, when the president will return, and what timetable the government can offer for fuel and power relief.