Peter Mutharika
Quick facts for kids
Peter Mutharika
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Mutharika in 2014
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| President-elect of Malawi | |
| Assuming office TBD |
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| Vice President | Jane Ansah (elect) |
| Succeeding | Lazarus Chakwera |
| 5th President of Malawi | |
| In office 31 May 2014 – 28 June 2020 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| President | Bingu wa Mutharika |
| Preceded by | George Chaponda |
| Succeeded by | George Chaponda |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 15 June 2009 – 9 August 2010 |
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| President | Bingu wa Mutharika |
| Preceded by | Henry Dama Phoya |
| Succeeded by | George Chaponda |
| Member of Parliament for Thyolo East |
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| In office 19 May 2009 – March 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Bapu Khamisa |
| Succeeded by | Gerson Timothy Solomoni |
| Advisor to The President on Foreign and Domestic Policy | |
| In office 2009–2012 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arthur Peter Mutharika
18 July 1940 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 well-known politician and lawyer from Malawi. He is currently the President-elect of Malawi. He served as the country's President from May 2014 to June 2020. Peter Mutharika is the younger brother of Bingu wa Mutharika, who was Malawi's third president. He often advised his brother on important national and international matters.
Mr. Mutharika is an expert in international law, which deals with rules between different countries. He has held several important government roles. These include Minister of Justice, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. As Foreign Minister, he helped improve relations between Malawi and the United Kingdom. He was first elected President of Malawi in the 2014 election as a candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). He later lost the 2020 re-run election to Lazarus Chakwera. However, in the 2025 election, he won and is now the President-elect once more.
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Growing Up and School
Arthur Peter Mutharika was born on July 18, 1940, in a place called Thyolo. Both of his parents were teachers. He went to Dedza Secondary School for his high school education.
His Career as a Lawyer
Studying Law
Peter Mutharika studied law at the University of London and earned his first law degree in 1965. He then continued his studies at Yale University in the United States, where he received two more advanced law degrees in 1966 and 1969. Since 1971, he has been a professional lawyer in Tanzania.
Mr. Mutharika also had a long career as a professor. He taught law at several universities around the world. These included the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Washington University in St. Louis in the USA, where he taught for 37 years. He also advised the American Bar Association on legal matters in Africa.
Working as a Legal Advisor
Later in his career, Peter Mutharika helped his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, during his re-election campaign for president in 2009. He also advised his brother on important national and international issues until his brother passed away in 2012. Peter Mutharika eventually joined Malawian politics and became a government minister.
International Legal Work
Peter Mutharika was involved in international legal cases, working as part of a special group that settled disputes between countries. In 2011, he stepped down from some cases involving Zimbabwe. This was to ensure fairness, as his brother had close ties with Zimbabwe's government at the time.
Starting in Politics
Peter Mutharika is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In May 2009, he was elected to the Malawian Parliament. His brother, President Bingu wa Mutharika, then appointed him to the Malawi Cabinet. He served as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Later, he became the Minister of Education, Science and Technology. By September 2011, he was serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Becoming a Presidential Candidate
In August 2011, the DPP chose Peter Mutharika as their candidate for the 2014 presidential elections. This decision was made by the party's main council.
Becoming President (2014-2020)
His First Time as President
Peter Mutharika was elected President in the 2014 election. He officially became President on May 31, 2014. When he formed his government in June 2014, he also took on the role of Minister of Defense. He appointed Goodall Gondwe, an experienced economist, as Minister of Finance. He also chose Atupele Muluzi, another presidential candidate, as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining.
During his first term, he supported efforts to grow different types of crops in Malawi, not just tobacco. His time as president faced challenges like food shortages and power cuts. Malawi's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigated some claims and stated that President Peter Mutharika did not personally benefit from money deposited into his party's bank account.
The 2019 and 2020 Elections
On May 21, 2019, Malawi held elections for president, members of parliament, and local councilors. Peter Mutharika was the DPP's presidential candidate. His main opponent was Lazarus Chakwera from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Saulos Chilima, who was Mutharika's vice president, also ran for president.
The results of the 2019 election were disputed. Many people protested against the election process. On February 3, 2020, the Constitutional Court of Malawi made a historic decision. The court ruled that the 2019 election results were not valid due to problems with how the election was managed. The court ordered a new election to be held within 150 days.
In the re-run election that followed, Peter Mutharika was defeated by Lazarus Chakwera. He received about 40% of the votes.
After His First Presidency (2020-Present)
After his presidency, Peter Mutharika remained active in politics. In July 2022, he held a press conference where he discussed his party's plans for the future of Malawi. He also mentioned that he was thinking about running for president again.
The 2025 Election
Peter Mutharika decided to run for president again in 2025 against Lazarus Chakwera. In August 2024, the DPP officially supported his candidacy. In the election held on September 16, 2025, Mutharika won against Chakwera, receiving more than 50% of the votes. He is now the President-elect of Malawi.
About His Family
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Peter Mutharika has three children from his first marriage: two daughters named Moyenda and Monique, and a son named Mahopela. His first wife, Christophine, passed away from cancer on January 1, 1990. She was from the Caribbean and was Catholic.
After being a widower for over twenty years, Peter Mutharika married Gertrude Maseko on June 21, 2014. Gertrude was a member of the Malawi Parliament.
Mr. Mutharika is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Books and Writings
Peter Mutharika has written several books and articles on law and international relations. Some of his works include:
- Foreign Investment Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Emerging Policy and Legal Frameworks (book).
- "The 1995 Democratic Constitution of Malawi", Journal of African Law (1996).
- "The Role of International Law in the Twenty-First Century: An African Perspective", Fordham International Law Journal (1995).
- "The International Law of Development", Oceana Publications (1995).
Awards and Honors
Peter Mutharika has received several awards and honors for his work:
- International Jurist Award, 2008
- The African Leadership Award and Medal of Honour, 2016
- Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon. D.Litt.) from the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2016
- State of Georgia Senate Citation of Merit, 2016
- Honorary Professor at the University of International Business and Economics, China, 2018
- Nelson Mandela Leadership Award, National Baptist Convention, 2018
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 2018
International Roles
Mr. Mutharika has held several important international positions:
- President, International Third-World Legal Studies Association, 1986-1993
- Global Fund Replenishment Champion, 2018-2019
- Member, Committee of Ten African Heads of State Championing the Advancement of Education, Science and Technology, appointed by the African Union 2018
- Champion, Global Partnership for Education
- African Development Bank, Youth Champion
- Co-convenor, Global Commission on Financing Education
- UN Women "HeForShe" Champion
- UNFPA Global Youth Champion
See also
In Spanish: Peter Mutharika para niños
