Malawi Presidency Denies Claims President Is ‘Absent’

Questions over whether President Peter Mutharika has been stepping back from the day-to-day demands of governing have drawn a firm rebuttal from the presidency, which insists he remains fully in charge and actively engaged.

In an official statement, the government dismissed reports that Mutharika has shirked key responsibilities by handing over his roles to ministers. It described the claims as “regrettable” and “unpatriotic,” and said the president has chaired every Cabinet meeting since taking office in September 2025. According to the statement, portraying him as withdrawn from his duties amounts to an attempt to build an “artificial narrative” of an absent leader.

The presidency also responded to criticism about why the president at times assigns lower-level officials to represent him at major ceremonies, saying those decisions are consistent with his austerity measures.