Mutharika Returns to Malawi After Private Trip to South Africa

By Suleman Chitera, MFN Reporter
October 31, 2026

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has returned to Malawi after spending several weeks in South Africa on a private trip.

A press release from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), signed by Chief Secretary Justin Saidi, confirms that Mutharika arrived at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on Saturday afternoon, October 31, 2026.

His return ends weeks of public uncertainty and political debate surrounding his absence from the country, with opposition politicians and other stakeholders repeatedly questioning his whereabouts and the circumstances of his trip.

The government had maintained that the President was on a private visit to South Africa.

Mutharika’s return is expected to shift attention to his next engagements and the government’s response to the concerns raised during his absence.