Mutharika returns from fourth South Africa trip: When is his next private visit?

…President spent 53 days in South Africa on four private trips since returning to office

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has returned to Malawi after spending 11 days in South Africa on what was his fourth publicly announced private trip to the country since returning to office in October 2025.

Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi confirmed that Mutharika arrived back at Kamuzu International Airport on Saturday, 15 August, following what State House described as a private visit. As with his departure, State House did not disclose the purpose of the trip.

The latest visit began on 5 August, barely five weeks after the President had returned from another extended stay in South Africa, where he spent 17 days between 12 and 29 June.

Mutharika has now made four publicly announced private trips to South Africa since returning to office:

• 1 December 2025 to 15 December 2025: 14 days
• 1 March 2026 to 12 March 2026: 11 days
• 12 June 2026 to 29 June 2026: 17 days
• 5 August 2026 to 15 August 2026: 11 days

Taken together, the President has spent 53 days in South Africa on private visits since returning to office.

Malawi24 was the first news outlet to highlight in our report the frequency of President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s private visits to South Africa, documenting that he had spent 42 days in the country on three private trips before his latest departure. Soon afterwards, renowned columnist Steven Nhlane weighed in on the issue.

Writing in his regular Off the Shelf column in The Nation, Nhlane remarked that South Africa had seemingly become “Malawi’s unofficial State House annexe” and joked that the President “could probably qualify for a frequent traveller discount.” Referring to Mutharika’s repeated visits, he wrote that immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport must be greeting the presidential delegation like old friends: “‘Welcome back, Your Excellency,’ they might say. ‘The usual lounge? The usual motorcade? Shall we keep your favourite parking bay ready?'”

His latest return comes days after Malawi24 reported growing public debate over the frequency of the President’s private travel and the limited information released by State House regarding the purpose and duration of the visits.

During the President’s latest absence, Second Vice-President Enoch Chihana continued to undertake official duties on behalf of the Head of State. He received International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo in Lilongwe.

Chihana is now representing President Mutharika at the 46th SADC Summit in South Africa after the President opted not to remain in the country to lead Malawi’s delegation.

The President’s repeated trips have turned each departure into a matter of public expectation, with many now wondering when his next private visit to South Africa will be.