APM leaves for South Africa on 5th private visit

President Peter Mutharika yesterday left for South Africa on his fifth private visit to the country since returning to power following his triumph in the September 16 2025 General Election.

Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi announced the President’s visit in a statement yesterday and said he departed through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.

Back in South Africa: Mutharika. | Nation

“His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, has today, 6th October 2026, left for the Republic of South Africa on a private visit,” the statement reads.

Mutharika’s first private visit to South Africa was undertaken on December 1 2025 and lasted about 14 days before heading back again on March 1 this year for 11 days which was followed by a 17-day visit from June 12.

On August 5, the President left for his fourth trip which lasted 11 days.

The Office of the President and Cabinet has consistently classified the trips as private visits and not disclosed details about their purpose or the President’s activities while in South Africa.

The President, who clocked one year in office on October 4 2026, has not undertaken a State visit abroad and has instead delegated either Cabinet ministers or Second Vice-President Enock Chihana at regional groupings such as Southern African Development Community Heads of State and Government summits.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda also represented the President at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the September 16 2025 presidential election with 3 035 249 votes, representing 56.8 percent of the total, against 1 765 170 votes for then incumbent Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party.

Previously, Mutharika served as president from 2014 to 2020 before losing to Chakwera in the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election following the annulment of his 2019 presidential election win over irregularities.

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