In brief
President Peter Mutharika’s fifth trip to South Africa has sparked outrage from Malawi’s opposition amid mounting fuel shortages, power cuts and economic woes. The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) demands the president explain his prolonged absence and urges Vice‑President Jane Ansah to address the nation. Information Minister Shadric Namalomba defends leadership continuity and labels the opposition’s accusations as politically motivated. The crisis is compounded by a severe shortage of foreign currency, crippling import of essential goods and causing widespread public frustration.
Opposition parties in Malawi are demanding answers after President Peter Mutharika left the country on a private trip to South Africa, extending the absence during a period of acute economic distress.
Mutharika departed on 6 October for what officials define as a private visit. It is his fifth trip to South Africa this year, and each trip has been shrouded in limited transparency.
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) deems the nation’s situation “critical” and calls for decisive leadership, arguing that the continued fuel shortages, electricity blackouts and shortages in essential medicines are growing unbearable.
Information Minister Shadric Namalomba denied that the president’s absence created a leadership vacuum, insisting “a state president is always in charge at any time, anywhere.” He called the opposition’s accusations an attempt to exploit past government failures.
MCP campaign director Moses Kunkuyu said the public deserves to know who is steering the country. “The issue is not that the president has travelled, it is that people are suffering and need reassurance that someone is in charge,” he told journalists in Lilongwe.
He urged the government to address the persistent challenges, from fuel and foreign currency shortages to unreliable power supply, and criticised the lack of clear communication from the presidency.
During the trip, Mutharika delegated the delegation to the Comesa summit to the trade minister, and earlier reports suggesting a medical trip to India were dismissed by senior officials as unverified.
Malawi’s economy is threatened as the shortage of foreign currency hampers fuel imports, pushing transport costs higher, and public frustration swells over long queues at petrol stations and inadequate medical supplies.
For further context, read BBC’s wider coverage on Malawi, including its stories on food shortages, public protests and political dynamics.
