…public appearance exposes deteriorating health
By Faith Simbi
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s public appearance on Thursday revived unrelenting debate about his fading and worsening health on several social media platforms.
Last weekend, DPP was forced to cancel the memorial service of its founder late Bingu wa Mutharika at Mpumulo wa Bata in Thyolo and reports were rife that that the cancellation was due to Mutharika’s waning health.
Reports were also rife that plans were underway to have the frail politician airlifted to South Africa for medical attention.
However, on Thursday afternoon, Mutharika defied all odds and travelled to Khwisa in Balaka to attend the funeral of MacFriday M’madi, a young boy aged 16 born to Getrude Mutharika’s young sister and was a student at Maranatha Boys Academy.
The young boy perished on April 8, 2025, in a road carnage at Mbulumbuzi Trading Centre in Chiradzulu as he was travelling in public transport heading for Mangochi for a holiday.
Mutharika arrived at the funeral alongside his wife, DPP’s Director of Youths Norman Chisale, DPP Secretary General Peter Mukhito, and other party members such as Rhoza Mbilizi, among others.
Upon arrival at the cemetery, according to video footage which is viral on social media, Mutharika appears to struggle to walk upright and normally as he is seen painfully leapfrogging his legs.
Clad in a black suit, a black necktie, and a white shirt, Mutharika is seen hobbling and floundering, forcing himself to walk clumsily as he moves towards his chair.
The same situation followed minutes later when he rose to wray a wreath as the footage shows him trudging in a weary and difficult manner towards the gravesite.
Meanwhile, the video has sparked unceasing debate with many repeatedly calling for DPP members to stop abusing the old man.
“It is now clear that this man is old and also badly sick. I doubt he will do the rigorous campaign ahead of elections,” wrote Enock Nkhalamba Shemu on Facebook.
Another sympathiser Mayeso Ntengula wrote: “We need that organisation which promotes the welfare of the elderly to talk to DPP officials so they stop this abuse of an old man. It is not on guys.”
During the funeral, Mukhito spoke on behalf of the ailing Mutharika and in his speech, he said the entire DPP family is shocked over the tragic loss of their beloved son, urging the M’madi family to remain steadfast in their faith during the trying moment.
The deceased was buried at exactly 16:23 and Mutharika and his wife were the first to lay wreaths.