LILONGWE--Former First Lady Callista Mutharika was around when her husband and Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika collapsed, former state house employees have told MaraPost.

Callista’s whereabouts have been a subject for debate as the late president was taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital on 5th April 2012 around 11 am. Top government officials and journalists arrived at the hospital around 11.30 am while she arrived about 1.30 pm.

“The Former First Lady was the first to testify at the inquiry of her husband, but as others have been going there, she seems to have not said the truth, claiming she was attending to other matters which has forced us tell Malawians that she was at New State House when her husband collapsed,” a source said.

The sources indicated that Lilongwe City South East MP Agnes Penemulungu was all alone meeting with the departed Malawi leader and it was her screaming which caught at the attention of the bodyguards who were outside the room.

“Normally Presidents meet all alone with their guests but someone sits behind the door. She screamed and she was next to the President and people question how close she was as he was sitting behind the desk and her on the other side of the big table,” our source said.

Journalists who tried to construct a timeline of events questioned the conspicuous absence for about two hours  of Callista after Mutharika’s younger brother Peter, Chief Secretary Bright Msaka, daughter Duwa and son Madalitso, former chief of police Peter Mukhito, former intelligence chief Bintony Kutsaira were at the hospital.

“It gives credence to reports that she knew Bingu had died,” the source said and wondered what she was doing at the State House during that time.

Later that day, government announced that Mutharika would be airlifted to South Africa for further treatment but sources said he was already dead. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a South African military hospital.

Meanwhile, a family member has told MaraPost the former first lady now lives at the luxurious Ndata Farm while Mutharika’s grown children have been squabbling in Lilongwe over property. Tapiwa and Madalitso are said to be ganging up against Duwa Mubaira, accusing her of blowing cash after she bought a mountain bike and went for a holiday in Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro recently.
---
(C) The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement prohibited

Add attachment