A professional makeup artist contracted by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) handlers to conceal former president Arthur Peter Mutharika’s deteriorating appearance has quit in frustration over unpaid bills, raising new questions about the opposition party’s desperate efforts to market an aging candidate as fit to lead.
Maria Maibazi Perreira, a South African beautician who operates high-end salons in Johannesburg and Pretoria, told The Pangolin that DPP operatives approached her late last year with a mission: soften Mutharika’s visibly frail looks, which have sparked growing concerns among Malawians about his suitability to contest in the upcoming presidential election.
“I was approached by Maria Ndasowa and DPP Director of Women Mary Navicha. They explained they wanted me on call every time Mutharika needed facial work,” Perreira explained.
She added: “Given the demanding schedule, I insisted on an initial commitment fee of MK20 million, plus a monthly retainer of MK3 million, excluding materials and logistics.”
However, Perreira says she only received MK3 million through a woman called Mathanga, after which her calls and demands for payment were ignored.
“They owe me close to MK34 million right now. I buy my own products and pay my staff. It’s very inhuman,” she lamented.
Perreira’s artistry was reportedly behind Mutharika’s unexpectedly rejuvenated look during his farewell meeting with the outgoing U.S. Ambassador earlier this year, a photo opportunity DPP propaganda teams widely circulated to suggest Mutharika was healthy and energetic.
Mutharika, 84, has faced intensifying scrutiny over his health and mental sharpness.
His public appearances have been marred by slurred speech, blank stares, and apparent disorientation, signs that have fueled speculation he is no longer capable of active leadership.
APM’s nomination paper presentation last month turned into a fiasco when makeup artists failed to show up, revealing his frail state to the nation. Observers described Mutharika’s movements as labored, with party officials practically propping him up during key moments.
The makeup fiasco adds to an emerging pattern of blunders by Mutharika’s campaign team.
Just on Sunday, Enoch Chihana of the DPP-Northern Alliance appeared to let slip during a rally that if the alliance wins, it is Dr. Jane Ansah who would effectively be president after September 16, a revelation widely interpreted as an admission that Mutharika would step aside due to incapacity.
Similarly, Norman Chisale, Mutharika’s security aide and controversial fixer, told supporters in Ntcheu not to expect Mutharika to be “hands-on” after the elections, hinting at a succession plan that would leave him or other handlers in charge.
Together, these statements have fed speculation that the DPP is cynically using Mutharika’s name as a vehicle to regain power, knowing he cannot sustain a five-year term.
According to insiders, the DPP has been scrambling to find a replacement makeup artist ahead of the Sunday rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre.
Sources close to the party describe a “state of panic” among strategists who feared another disastrous public appearance could destroy any remaining confidence among undecided voters. Eventually, a Malawian make-up artist was found who did “fairly good job on the old man.”
Maria Ndasowa, one of the DPP officials who allegedly hired Perreira, has also been embroiled in separate controversies. Weeks ago, she caused a stir by declaring publicly that “DPP women don’t wear underpants,” a statement that drew widespread ridicule and highlighted the party’s internal moral dysfunction.
As the campaign intensifies, the DPP’s reliance on cosmetic fixes to mask Mutharika’s frailty, rather than addressing concerns over his age and ability, is increasingly seen as a metaphor for the party’s strategy: gloss over reality in the hope Malawians won’t notice until it’s too late.
