President Peter Mutharika asserts full control after South Africa trip

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has addressed public concerns regarding his recent three-week private trip to South Africa, stating that he maintained full control of the government during his absence.

In a video interview released by State House, Mutharika dismissed rumors regarding his health and insisted that everything remained under control. He stated that he stayed in close contact with ministers and government officials to manage national affairs. While acknowledging there were "a few things" to address, he characterized these issues as political in nature.

The President's absence drew scrutiny from various groups, including the Malawi Law Society and the Public Affairs Committee, who sought accountability for his whereabouts. While the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Justin Saidi, maintained that the President's private activities are not subject to government explanation, Mutharika used his return to call for national unity, invoking the Kenyan concept of "harambee" to encourage citizens to pull together.