President Peter Mutharika returned home on Saturday through Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, concluding a nearly four-week stay in South Africa that marked his fifth and longest private visit since reclaiming the presidency.
His arrival, officially confirmed via a press statement from Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, brings to a close a period of intense public speculation regarding the exercise of Executive authority during a time of acute national distress.
In an interview with State House press officer Cathy Maulidi, Mutharika pushed back against critics who questioned who was steering the ship of State, insisting he remained in command throughout his absence.
He claimed he maintained a direct line with the Chief Secretary up to 10 times a day, alongside constant check-ins with Cabinet ministers to ensure seamless administrative continuity.
“I was in full control of the country, the government. I was in touch with them. I was in touch with the Chief Secretary here; that’s 10 times a day and the ministers, Chipungu and others. So, I was in charge of the government and also the party. Everything is under control, so nobody should complain,” he said.
Turning to the crippling fuel supply crisis that has left motorists sleeping in multi-week queues at filling stations nationwide, Mutharika deflected blame away from foreign exchange scarcity, attributing the paralysis to logistical and transportation bottlenecks, claiming that adequate fuel is sitting idle at Tanzania ports awaiting ferrying to Malawi.
On electricity blackouts plaguing homes and businesses, the President promised the end of the challenge by December, saying government is currently overhauling faulty machinery.
In a striking allegation, Mutharika claimed that some recent power supply disruptions were acts of deliberate sabotage, warning that perpetrators will face swift action.
“I have clear evidence of what is going on, and those people will be taken to task. I can promise you that,” Mutharika warned.
However, the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which spent the past week demanding answers regarding the President’s whereabouts and executive accountability, declared that physical return alone falls short.
MCP Spokesperson Jessie Kabwila argued that Malawians deserve a comprehensive and televised presidential address to tackle the deep-seated economic and social crises festering in his absence.
“We want him to have a televised address that will cover the main issues that Malawians have been agitating for his response on. Until then, we will wait for that so that we can outline what we, as the opposition and more specifically Malawians, expect of the President,” Kabwila said.
Political Science Association of Malawi Spokesperson George Chaima noted that while Mutharika’s return puts rest to vacuum theories, the burden now shifts entirely to Executive action.
“Malawians have been talking and asking, but I believe it is the President himself who should speak more about all these things when he settles down. I expect Malawians will also be informed about what he, as Head of State, together with his Cabinet, is doing to address the acute challenges this country is going through now,” Chaima observed.
National Advocacy Platform Chairperson and private practice lawyer Benedicto Kondowe agreed that while no technical constitutional vacuum was breached, the episode exposed severe vulnerabilities in state communication.
“The public now expects reassurance that government remained functional during his absence and, more importantly, that there is clear leadership, commitment, and a credible plan to address pressing challenges, including fuel shortages, foreign exchange scarcity, economic pressures, and unreliable electricity supply,” Kondowe said. “Ultimately, public confidence will depend not merely on the President’s return, but on the government’s demonstrated resolve and tangible progress.”
Mutharika departed for South Africa on October 6, capping off a controversial travel pattern established since his victory in the September 16 2025 General Election.
