BREAKING: Mukhito meets Mutharika in RSA, says he is in robust health

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General Peter Mukhito says President Peter Mutharika is in robust health, dismissing reports that the Malawi leader is bedridden.

In a statement dated October 25, 2026, Mukhito said he met Mutharika in South Africa on Friday, October 23, where they spent more than an hour together.

“Throughout our interaction, His Excellency was cheerful, vibrant and in good health,” said Mukhito.

He said the meeting had convinced him that reports suggesting Mutharika was bedridden did not reflect what he had personally observed.

Mukhito urged Malawians to treat reports about the President’s health with caution, saying such claims should be supported by credible evidence.

Mutharika defeated former president Lazarus Chakwera in the September 2025 presidential election to return to power for a second term.

His continued stay in South Africa has, however, drawn public attention, with questions being raised about his health and leadership while away from the country.

Mukhito said the President remained in charge of the country despite being outside Malawi, arguing that modern technology allowed him to communicate with officials and attend to government business remotely.

“The same principle applies to the Presidency. His Excellency continues to provide leadership to our country despite being physically outside Malawi,” he said.

Mukhito added that Mutharika had a constitutional mandate to lead the country until 2030 and expressed confidence that he would complete his term.

He also appealed to DPP members and the public to remain calm, saying speculation about the President’s health could create unnecessary uncertainty.

Mukhito said the President’s performance should be judged by how he carries out his constitutional duties rather than his physical location.