Peter Mutharika facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Peter Mutharika
Mutharika in 2014
5th President of Malawi
In office 31 May 2014 – 28 June 2020
Vice President	Saulos Chilima Everton Chimulirenji
Preceded by	Joyce Banda
Succeeded by	Lazarus Chakwera
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 8 September 2011 – 26 April 2012
President	Bingu wa Mutharika
Preceded by	Etta Banda
Succeeded by	Ephraim Chiume
Minister of Education, Science and Technology
In office 9 August 2010 – 8 September 2011
President	Bingu wa Mutharika
Preceded by	George Chaponda
Succeeded by	George Chaponda
Minister of Justice
In office 15 June 2009 – 9 August 2010
President	Bingu wa Mutharika
Preceded by	Henry Dama Phoya
Succeeded by	George Chaponda
Member of Parliament for Thyolo East
In office 19 May 2009 – March 2014
Preceded by	Bapu Khamisa
Succeeded by	Gerson Timothy Solomoni
Advisor to The President on Foreign and Domestic Policy
In office 2009–2012
Personal details
Born	Arthur Peter Mutharika (1940-07-18) 18 July 1940 (age 84) Chisoka, Thyolo, Nyasaland
Nationality	Malawian
Political party	DPP (2004–present) UDF (before 2004)
Spouses	Christophine (d. 1990) Gertrude Maseko ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	3
Relatives	Bingu wa Mutharika (brother)
Alma mater	University of London (LLB) Yale University (LLM, JSD)
Profession	Lawyer
Awards	International Jurist Award

Arthur Peter Mutharika (born 18 July 1940) is a Malawian politician and lawyer. He served as the President of Malawi from May 2014 to June 2020. Mutharika is an expert in international law. He worked on global justice issues, focusing on international economic law and constitutional law. He also advised his older brother, President Bingu wa Mutharika, on foreign and local policies until his brother's death in 2012.

Before becoming president, Peter Mutharika held several important government jobs. He was the Minister of Justice, then Minister for Education, Science and Technology. From 2011 to 2012, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he helped improve relations between Malawi and the United Kingdom. As the candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Peter Mutharika won the 2014 election and became president.

Peter Mutharika's Journey to Leadership

Early Life and Education

Peter Mutharika earned his first law degree (LL.B.) from the University of London in 1965. He then continued his studies at Yale University. There, he received his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in 1966 and his Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) in 1969.

After his studies, Mutharika became a professional lawyer in Tanzania in 1971. He taught law at several universities around the world. These included the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Yale University in the USA. He also taught for 37 years at Washington University in St. Louis. He also advised the American Bar Association on legal matters in Africa.

Entering Politics

Peter Mutharika helped his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, in his campaign to be re-elected president in 2009. In 1995, Peter Mutharika had suggested limiting the powers of the president in Malawi. Later, he joined Malawian politics himself. He became a Minister in the government, helping to shape its policies. He continued to advise the President on foreign and local issues until 2012.

International Legal Work

Mutharika was part of a group of three experts who settled international legal disputes. In 2011, he decided to step down from two cases involving Zimbabwe. These cases were with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes. He did this because of concerns about fairness, as his brother, President Bingu Mutharika, had close ties with the Zimbabwean government.

Political Career in Malawi

Mutharika with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd

Peter Mutharika became the leader of the DPP in Malawi. In May 2009, he was elected to the Malawian Parliament. His brother, President Bingu wa Mutharika, then appointed him to the Malawi Cabinet. He first served as Minister of Justice. Later, he became Minister of Education, Science and Technology. By September 2011, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Party Leadership and Challenges

In 2010, there were discussions about President Bingu wa Mutharika possibly choosing Peter Mutharika as his successor in the DPP. This caused some tension with the sitting Vice-President, Joyce Banda. She was later removed from the DPP and started her own party. Even though she was no longer part of the DPP, Joyce Banda remained the country's Vice-President according to Malawi's laws.

Endorsement for President

In August 2011, the DPP's main council (NGC) chose Peter Mutharika as their candidate for the 2014 presidential elections. This happened shortly after protests in Malawi in July 2011. The party believed that the public's anger would "fade." This decision also led to some party members who disagreed with the choice being removed from their positions.

Becoming President in 2014

Peter Mutharika won the 2014 election and became President. He officially took office on 31 May 2014. When he formed his government in June 2014, he also took on the role of Minister of Defense. He appointed Goodall Gondwe, a well-known economist, as Minister of Finance. He also included Atupele Muluzi, another presidential candidate from the election, as Minister of Natural Resources.

During his first term, Mutharika supported growing different crops in Malawi. This was to reduce the country's reliance on tobacco. His first term faced some challenges, including public unhappiness over corruption and power cuts. In 2018, many people protested against corruption. Mutharika was cleared by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in an investigation. The ACB stated that he did not personally benefit from money deposited into his party's bank account.

The 2019 Election and Its Outcome

On 21 May 2019, Malawi held elections for president, parliament members, and local leaders. Peter Mutharika was again the DPP's presidential candidate. His main opponents were Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima. Chilima had been Mutharika's vice president since 2014.

The election faced many claims of unfairness. There were reports of results being changed in some areas. Many result sheets were altered using correction fluid, leading to the election being called "the Tippex Election." Despite these issues, the Malawi Electoral Commission announced Mutharika as the winner on 27 May 2019. He was sworn in for a new five-year term the next day.

However, the opposition parties asked the High Court of Malawi to cancel the election results. Protests continued against the election results and Mutharika's government. On 3 February 2020, the Constitutional Court ruled to cancel the 2019 election. The court ordered a new election to be held within 150 days. This was a very rare decision in Malawi's history.

The 2020 Election

In the 2020 election, Peter Mutharika was defeated by Lazarus Chakwera. Chakwera became the new president of Malawi on 28 June 2020.

In July 2022, Peter Mutharika spoke to the media. He said that the current government was not keeping its promises to Malawians. He also mentioned that his party aims to win the 2025 elections and that he is thinking about running for president again.

Anti-Corruption Investigations

In August 2020, the Malawi Anti-Corruption Commission froze the bank accounts of Peter Mutharika and his wife. This was part of an investigation into the tax-free import of cement. In January 2021, the High Court did not allow Mutharika's request to unfreeze his accounts.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Mutharika has announced his intention to run for president again in 2025. In August 2024, his party, the DPP, officially supported his candidacy.

Personal Life

Mutharika meeting Henry Bellingham of the British Foreign Office

Peter Mutharika has three children: two daughters named Moyenda and Monique, and a son named Mahopela. His first wife, Christophine, passed away from cancer in 1990. She was from the Caribbean.

Mutharika remained a widower for over thirty years. On 21 June 2014, he married Gertrude Maseko, who was a member of the Malawi Parliament.

Peter Mutharika is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is the younger brother of Bingu wa Mutharika, who was Malawi's third president.

Publications and Recognition

Peter Mutharika has written several books and articles on law and international relations. Some of his notable works include:

• Foreign Investment Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Emerging Policy and Legal Frameworks (a book).
• "The 1995 Democratic Constitution of Malawi" in the Journal of African Law.
• "The Role of International Law in the Twenty-First Century: An African Perspective."

He has also received several awards for his work:

• International Jurist Award in 2008.
• The African Leadership Award and Medal of Honour in 2016.
• Honorary Doctorates from the University of Addis Ababa (2016) and Washington University in St. Louis (2018).
• Nelson Mandela Leadership Award in 2018.

International Roles

Peter Mutharika has held several important international positions, showing his global involvement:

• President of the International Third-World Legal Studies Association from 1986 to 1993.
• Global Fund Replenishment Champion from 2018 to 2019.
• Member of the Committee of Ten African Heads of State for Education, Science and Technology (appointed by the African Union in 2018).
• Champion for the Global Partnership for Education.
• UNFPA Global Youth Champion.

See also

In Spanish: Peter Mutharika para niños