It is not easy to write such a piece. But sometimes, truth demands uncomfortable honesty.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has, yet again, betrayed the values of dignity, compassion, and responsibility by parading a visibly frail Arthur Peter Mutharika before Malawians—all in a desperate attempt to resuscitate a flailing political campaign.
The released photos of the 87-year-old former President upon his return from South Africa are more than concerning; they are heartbreaking. They are telling. They reveal a big and sad story behind the push to have APM run for presidency again this September.
His wife, Gertrude Mutharika, tried to manage a smile, but even her forced cheerfulness failed to mask the pain and worry in her eyes. She looked concerned. As a mother and wife, her inborn instinct betrayed her. Try as she might, she could not mask the deep pain in her eyes, the weight of worry etched across her face, the silent scream of concern in her trembling posture, the agony she bore not just as her own, but on behalf of the man she loves.
To make matters worse, the DPP is not offering clarity. Instead, it is feeding the nation a diet of deception. We are told the former president is “well,” that he is “ready to lead,” and that “everyone falls sick” as though this was some trivial flu. But Malawians can see the truth with their own eyes.
The Story Behind the Pictures
The return of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to Malawi from South Africa was meant to be a triumphant one, a rallying point for the DPP as it prepares for the September 16 elections. But the moment the pictures and video clips surfaced, the narrative quickly shifted from political strategy to human tragedy.
The images of Mutharika, frail, visibly disoriented, and struggling to maintain balance, sent shockwaves across the nation. They speak not of power, not of resilience, but of the heavy burden of age, illness, and the cruel refusal of a political machine to let go of its symbol, even as his body pleads for rest.
These visuals are heart-wrenching.
Far from confirming strength, the photos portray a weak man, both physically and emotionally. The former President looked the man who had just been discharged from a high-dependency medical facility, and not someone coming from a high-level and successful business meeting in South Africa.
Gone is the image of a commanding Head of State who once stood at the helm of Malawi. In its place is a fragile old man, caught in a political game that no longer respects his age, dignity, or humanity. His hands tremble. His gaze is hollow. His body leans heavily on the strength of those surrounding him.
If Mutharika struggled to exit a vehicle at his Nyambadwe residence, how much effort did it take to get into it at Chileka International Airport? Why are there no pictures of his arrival at the airport, only staged shots of his homecoming?
And perhaps most heartbreaking is the silent scream on the face of his wife.
Parading a Sick Man for a War Trophy
Instead of shielding their aging leader, the DPP is parading him like a war trophy. They release these images in an attempt to silence skeptics, but all they’ve done is confirm public fears, Mutharika is not okay.
There is a tragic cruelty in all of this. At 87 years old, after years of public service, Mutharika deserves rest, medical care, respect from all of us and dignity, not being hauled from hospital beds to frontlines of political circus. The insistence on his candidacy, despite his condition—reveals the selfishness of those surrounding him.
They are not acting in his best interest.
They are acting in theirs.
They want to use the old man as a political decoy. Let him win, they think, and they will govern from behind closed doors. But that’s not leadership; that’s manipulation. And it’s dangerous.
Malawi deserves leadership that is present, energetic, and visionary. Not a figurehead driven by unseen puppeteers.
It is now clear that Mutharika is a hostage, a political figurehead being used to hold together a party that has failed to regenerate. The campaign, if it proceeds, will be led by proxies, and we’ve seen this movie before.
We have been here before. In 2020, when Mutharika sought re-election, he left the heavy lifting to his running mate, Atupele Muluzi. While he stayed largely confined to his retirement home, Muluzi was everywhere, north, south, central, campaigning day and night. It was already clear then that the former president was tired.
Now, five years later, he is older and sicker. Nothing has changed.
This year looks no different.
Except this time, his health has deteriorated further. The same man who once joked about jogging now struggles to walk. How does the DPP expect him to endure the intensity of a presidential campaign, let alone lead a country of 20 million people?
What happens if he collapses in the middle of a campaign rally? What if, God forbid, he cannot complete a full term? Are we gambling a nation’s future for the sake of political ego?
Perhaps this is a party that has run out of ideas and viable alternatives. Its most vocal and visible figures, who are often at each other’s throats, have now chosen to continue pushing forward a man who should be enjoying the twilight of his life in peace. And yet, the same DPP wants Malawians to gamble their country’s future on someone whose ability to campaign is already in doubt.
The Contrast Couldn’t Be Sharper
Let’s put this into perspective.
- Arthur Peter Mutharika: 87 years old
- Joyce Banda: 74 years old
- Lazarus Chakwera: 70 years old
- Atupele Muluzi: 46 years old
- Dalitso Kabambe: 49 years old
Mutharika is significantly older than every other candidate. The gap between him and the next oldest, Joyce Banda, is 13 years. Chakwera, who is running for re-election, is 17 years younger. And the generational difference between Mutharika and youthful contenders like Muluzi and Kabambe is staggering.
This is not ageism; it is realism.
It is not that older people cannot lead. They can. But leadership, especially at presidential level, requires clarity of thought, physical resilience, and availability. It needs someone who can make daily decisions, respond to emergencies, and travel across the country to engage with citizens.
Let’s be honest: the Arthur Peter Mutharika we are seeing on those pictures cannot meet these expectations.
Worse still, when questions are raised, DPP officials retreat into silence or sarcasm. No press briefings. No medical updates. No candid interviews. Just old photos, doctored smiles, and a condescending attitude toward voters. Some even lash out at critics, claiming people are disrespecting the elderly.
But asking about a presidential candidate’s fitness is not disrespect, it is democracy.
If Mutharika is well, show us. If he is not, say so. Stop hiding behind rehearsed slogans and Photoshop campaigns. Malawians deserve the truth, especially when it involves their future.
There comes a time in every leader’s life when they must step back with grace. Bakili Muluzi did it. And Dr. Chakwera, too, will one day have to.
The tragedy of Mutharika is not that he is old. It is that his party is refusing to let him grow old in peace.
The DPP’s actions are not just an embarrassment, they are inhumane. Instead of celebrating Mutharika’s legacy, they are smearing it by treating him like a pawn. Instead of remembering his contributions to national development and constitutional law, they are turning him into a prop.
We must say: enough is enough.
In three months, Malawians will go to the polls. The choices they make will shape the future of this nation for generations. They deserve to choose from leaders who are healthy, present, and capable.
The continued charade around Arthur Peter Mutharika is not just unfair to him, it is unfair to the entire country.
It is not too late for the DPP to change course. Let the old man rest. Let him enjoy the comfort of his home, the care of his family, and the respect of a grateful nation. Let someone else take the mantle.
Because this—this forced parade of an ailing man, is not politics.
It’s cruelty.
Mtima ukufuna koma thupi likukana.
Let the old man rest.
