President Peter Mutharika left the country yesterday through the Bakili Muluzi International Airport in Blantyre for South Africa on his first international trip since he was sworn-in on October 4 2025.
According to a communication issued on Sunday by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi, the President has travelled to the Rainbow Nation on a “private visit”.
The aircraft carrying Mutharika and First Lady Gertrude Mutharika marked ONYX Aviation with registration number ZS-FCI, departed the airport around 4.38pm.
Meanwhile, it is not yet known when he will return home.
Before walking on the red carpet to the plane, the President was welcomed by a guard of honour.
He stood at attention with the right hand on his chest until the National Anthem performed by the Malawi Defence Force Band came to an end.
Initially, Mutharika was scheduled to leave at 2pm, but according to his press secretary Cathy Maulidi, the time changed due to adverse weather conditions in South Africa.
Saidi was among senior government officials that saw off the President at the airport.
Mutharika, 85, of the Democratic Progressive Party, won the September 16 Presidential Election after defeating incumbent president Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party.
He got 3 035 249 votes, representing 56.8 percent, followed by Chakwera who got 1 765 170 votes.
Mutharika also led Malawi from 2014 to 2020 when he lost to Chakwera in fresh presidential election after the Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 election due to irregularities.
