Callista suspects foul play, to challenge Mutharika’s will
Former First Lady Callista Mutharika is suspicious that her late husband’s children might have played a fast one on her following revelations that her name is missing on the list of beneficiaries of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s Will.
The will was written after the death of Mutharika’s first wife Ethel in 2007.
Callista said in an interview with Nyasa Times that she has been encouraged by advice from legal experts to challenge late Mutharika’s ‘Last Will and Testament’ in courts.
A legal expert on wills, Seodi White, said Mutharika’s widow can ask a court of law to nullify his will because it was drawn before he married her.
“Mrs Muthatrika can challenge the will in court,” said White.
This has been backed by dean of law at Chancellor College, Dr Mwiza Nkhata, who said the will in question became invalid the moment Callista married former president.
“Callista Mutharika, as the lawful wife of late president, can challenge the will if she thinks that her late husband did not make reasonable provision of her in it.
“The issue can be taken to court and if the applicant is successful, the court may order redistribution,” said Nkhata.
Last week, the former first lady asked the High Court to remove her step-daughters–Tapiwa and Duwa– as administrators of the deceased estate.
Callista told Nyasa Times she was “motivated” to learn that she can move the court on the will.
But said she could not immediately comment on what path she will take.
“I can’t comment on that right now. Let’s wait; maybe by next month I will be in position to comment more on such issues,” she told Nyasa Times.
But a friend to the former First Lady confided to Nyasa Times that Callista felt cheated after being left out of the Will in possession of Mutharika’s children.
“The Will in discussion is of 2008 that is before they got married. She (Callista) believes the children must have hidden the amended Will, which she claimed to have gone missing soon after Bingu’s death. She believes her name is on it. She has vowed to fight on until the truth is known,” explained the source.
The former president’s estate is also engulfed by another legal battle as government is seeking K5 billion in unpaid estate duty.
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