Multi billionaire Mutharika displays ‘golden’ opulence

March 23, 2015 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 99 Comments

President Peter Mutharika in not just in the bracket of the country’s multi billionaires according to his declared wealth but his is also flaunting his opulence as he used a gold-spray painted wheelbarrow and shovel when kick-started construction of Njakwa-Livingstonia-Chitimba Road on Saturday in Rumphi.

Swagged-out: Mutharika with gold plated shovel as his Louis Vitto brief case is with ADC
Swagged-out: Mutharika with gold plated shovel as his Louis Vitto brief case is with ADC
Mutharika pushing a barrow on red carpet
Mutharika pushing a barrow on red carpet

During a groundbreaking ceremony at Mhuju, Rumphi, Mutharika who declared that he had had a number of bank accounts both within and outside Malawi containing close to 4 billion Malawi kwacha (roughly $10 million) in cash, used the opulent gold wheel barrow and shovel together with the First Lady.

The President’s brief case carried by aide-de camp was a vintage Louis Vuitto – an opulent status-symbol.

Meanwhile, critics have observed that Mutharika hopes of doing things differently on frequent criss-crossing the country, he is actually doing the same and defeating the austerity spirit.

Mutharika pledged during campaign last year that he will not be like former president Joyce Banda’s (JB) on unwanted frequent presidential travels.

However, President Mutharika has since January made 11 trips – an average of a function per week—the President has attended is worth his presence.

He led centenary commemoration of freedom fighter the Reverend John Chilembwe in Chiradzulu on January 17, visited flood victims in some parts of the country on January 19, opened the 60 kilometre John Chilembwe Highway that runs between Blantyre and Zomba on January 24 and left the country for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend to African Union Summit on January 28.

Mutharika launched the Public Service Reforms Programme in Lilongwe on February 11, presided over a pass-out parade of prison recruits and the award of medals to officers in Blantyre on February 21, toured Limbe central business district to revive the ‘Operation Red Star’ campaign introduced in the mid-1990s to demolish substandard and archaic buildings in the country’s major cities and towns on 23 February and launched a He4She Campaign at Parliament grounds in Lilongwe on 26 February.

He led the commemoration of the second anniversary of his arrest on treason charges in March 2013 on March 11, launched the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources on March 12 and launched Community Technical Colleges Programme at Ngara Community Technical College in Karonga on March 20.

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99 replies on “Multi billionaire Mutharika displays ‘golden’ opulence”

  1. stupid advisers how can you let this man make a fool of himself pushing a wheel barrow on red carpet? Stupid clueless Malawian leaders.

  2. Actually, the person pushing the other wheelbarrow should have been the minister in the Ministry of Works (or whatever ministry falls this function falls under). A Peter adakudyetsani zowawa agogowa? Mwazelezekatu nalo banja la ku ukalamba. Ngakhale kweni kwa azungukumene kisses zinayamba, munaona president kissing his wife in such an obscene way in public? This is pure acting zikuoneka kuti m’nyumbamo muli zii – olo gondolosi angagwire ntchito m’mene mwatheramo?

    By the way, are the fainting spells doing the rounds true?

  3. Akazawowa ankakhala ku Chiwembe, atathamangitsidwa ku banja (adabeleka mwana ndi mlamu wao) ankakhala ku Manja. Why cant she be realistic kumakhala m’mene amasaukila? Ma glove ndi a chani? Analibenso ngakhale wantchito otsuka mbale! Zitenje akunamizira ngati satha kubvalazi sizinkachoka pathupi. Inetu ndati ma first ladies andikwana- azikaonana ndi azimuna ao mzpinda mwao ife tilibe nao ntchito.

    I wud rather see Patricia Kaliati because she was voted in office – nanga enawa?

  4. Kodi mwati reporter ameneyu munantenga kuti?am sorry to say that his brain is in his balls rather than skull.ejaculations are making his thinking capacity level down. He is incapacitated

  5. I think its high time for our Leaders to learn to do things in reality. While i agree with the President to demonstrate manual labor in constructions as is the case in Malawi, the pushing of a Wheelbarrow on a red carpet is a bad representation. I would advise the President to imitate the humility of Dr Bakili Muluzi and Dr Joyce Banda as he perfomes differently in developmental agendas of this nation. Humility is a voluntary withdraw of some posibilities and do things as if you don’t have. “To be human is to have a humility or in our own venacular “kukhala Munthu ndikukhala ndi Umunthu!

  7. Ndalama zakuba izi, multi-billionaire chani apa. BTW, thats even less than Wayne Rooney takes home in A YEAR (not life time). Basi a Malawi nje nje nje ndi ndalama zakubazi, kikikikikiki

  8. Why is a hard hat necessary just to put some sand in a wheelbarrow? Only three people are wearing a hard hat, so is everyone else at the scene in danger? Why does APM need to be carrying a Louis Vuitton briefcase at such a function anyway? This man is a show-off. Why doesn’t he concern himself with the basic needs of his people up and down the country? This road is not being build with money from Malawi, but with funds from overseas aid. Someone representing the organization that donated the funds should be performing this ‘ceremony’, not APM who has done nothing for his country so far in his Presidency. APM is only concerned with the trappings of office; he is a total fraud!

  12. A Kabwila mumangovutika ndi UNIMA pitani kaye ku America, go to America and be lecture there, do not put with Malawi Government universities, you will die poor. Lecture in America first and become a billionaire then you can back and join politics like my beloved president.

  15. Those commenting on Louis Vuitton.

    The short word is LV. It is indeed a very expensive brand and the only ones I have seen use this brand is the president and the others are the cheena boys. Their shoes, socks, panties, wife’s handbags , glasses, watches, and travel bags are all LV. Oops I forgot. Slippers as well.

  16. I only blame him for commemorating the treason charges against him. otherwise all the functions he attended to were worthy attending. am pretty proud of this leader

  17. I now understand.Malawi is no the poorest country in the world;it is malawians who are poorest in mind.What’s the matter with gold wheelbarrow?Nosense!

  20. So you are saying that Muthalila is too mobile? i think the trips are official duties,if not then can you tel the nation the truth about the duties of the presdent..it was Kamuzu who opened Chanco,Kamuzu stadium,KCN and many other national projects so what is wrong now? Whose duty?..visiting flood victims has become a crime?…are they not Malawians or his people?

  21. Koma nde mukumulondatu? akakhala mu office mukuti ngat president kulibe. akayenda akuononga ma resources. Nde shupit zanu tsopanotu aaaaah! Anyway ulendo osafunikira unali wa ku lumbadzi police okha uja basitu

  25. And Wanga Gwede thot he had come up with a masterpiece. Award winning story.
    Dude, you need to do some serious saul searching before another attempt.

  27. …this is nonsense…..find something else to write…that wheelbarrow is very cheap…ndi spray paint chabe, (about K750 a can) there is nothing alarming there wen it comes monetary value.

  29. kikikikiki, I hope mwanangwa Gwede has read some of the comments posted here. Tiyeni tipange report nkhani izo zingaiwovwirani mwabanthu chonde mbaya!

  31. Malawians, when will u learn to appreciate good things. poverty has made us ungrateful but anyway lets pray hard

  34. So what you are saying is that the president so full of himself decided to show off his wealth by pushing a gold plated wili bala ha ha ha come on guys I’m not dpp nor against the president there are things I call point out to him as flaws but this is not worthy of news kamuzu’s casket is gold plated the folks and spoons at high state functions are gold plated the court of arms emblem is weaved in gold so its not all about the individual rather gold has been used for centuries to glorify a person of high office talk about egypt and rome don’t be silly nyasa point out the real issues not this silly stuff. Yes he may have averaged a trip a week but unlike joyce he is not distributing goats chickens and cows he is unveiling stones and attending ceremonies which if he missed he would be crucified for. We all know there is always a hidden agenda somewhere but this would not convince even a mad man to believe the president should be criticized.

  35. Kodi wheelbarrow imayenda pa carpet? Za zii! Amayi mwabvala mwaulemu lero. Koma ma photographers mutithandize – ma first lady’s (kaye second lady’s) musamawajambule atikwana. After all they are in public by fluke, nobody voted for them. Muzijambula okhawo tidawabvoterawo basi!

  36. Let the Malawi leader execute his duty without your stupid criticisms, when he is just at home you say he is dormant when he is travelling to get things done you say too much travelling. Kodi munayamba mwakhalapo president inu? Iya! Go Apm go do what you think can develop our country

  37. This should be a serious concern to all Malawians. There can not be sacred cows. It is very worrisome to see this administration treating cash gate looting with kid gloves. One wonders how serious APM is. Given the fact that donors have made it very clear that there will be no resumption of aid without complete overhaul and investigation of our financial system. As a Malawian I will continue to fight for justice by any means necessary. that includes soliciting support from various donors not to resume aid to this inept, clueless and corrupt government. Malawians need to stand up. we are suffering while the greedy corrupt DPP syndicate is cleaning up our coffers.

  38. The most important thing here is that the President launched a very important road project.As for the gold wheelbar Mr Reporte be informed that these are simple gold sprays meant for temporal decorations.JB used the same type when launching the Lirangwe zomba chingale road.We were there.For once stop concentrating on the trivia.As for the expensive Presidential bag; do you want the President to be carrying a plastic carrier bag?? Utter nonsense Mr Reporter.

  39. Apart from a wheelbarrow of soil what are APM and Malawi contributing towards the building of this new road? Almost certainly the project is being funded from outside the country. Malawi can’t afford to build roads itself but relies on aid for such infra-structure projects. Why are APM and his wife wearing hard hats and gloves just to wheel a borrow full/half-full of soil? Why do the barrows and spade have to be sprayed with gold paint? Why is a red carpet necessary for this simple task? Who does APM think he is? He stole the election to become President of the poorest country in the world. The man is a poser and a hypocrite. What is the source of his great wealth? Law Professors don’t earn salaries to justify such wealth even in the USA. This man has many questions still to answer, not least how does he plan to move Malawi forward and improve the lives of its people?

  40. who ever wrote this article is a stupid fool. look at the events you have mentioned: they are all very important national events demanding the presence of the head of state. it is only 11 trips, if it were Joyce Banda it would have been 90 trips in 90 days. All you want is that he should be at state house so that you can speculate about his health.

  42. kodi amalawi timafuna leader kuti azikhala bwanj, atati azingokhala muyamba kudandaulanso. Nanga kuimirira dzikoko kukhala pati?

  44. Assets should be declared upon presentation of nomination papers because we dont want to elect poor presidents who will go into government to steal our money. there is this lady who accidentally became president and prior to that she used to borrow from Katapira people and all of a sudden she became a donor of cars. now she is a fugutive from justice hiding somehwere in Jozi where she is negotiating to have the murderer Chanthunya released.

  45. Wanga Gwede, you are the most ignorant person i have ever met. The President was kick-starting a very important project – construction of the road for the prople of Rumphi. The only thing you see is a gold sprayed wheelbarrow. What colour did you want the wheelbarrow to be sprayed with? Go and check in “Game” and you will find that the price of all paint cans are the same, whether green, gold, black, etc. Stop being petty and write real issues of interest. Embedded journalism!!!

  46. zopusa zimenezo ma whellbarrows achani kagwereni uko mbala yoba ma billion, suja tinkanena kuti DPP inaba kwambiri. Pitala ndalama wazitenga kuti

  47. Kodi man wangwa mudageretsedwapo science? Mumaijaja electroplating and galvanizing? Kodi ndiye kuti atolankhani ndi a miyambi ndi ndakatulo basi? Is there no specialization at school of journalism such that some could be good at commenting on economics, others law, others business, others science etc. etc.? Hire me to reconstruct your syllabus!

  48. I see in this article nothing that a president should not have done. lets learn to give praise where its due and blame where a wrong has been done. Lets not try to make good deeds appear as bad deeds.

  49. I love Peter and the mighty DPP but this too much. Who’s advising my president? Attracting unnecessary attention and clearly killing the president’s name. #mightyDPPforlife

  50. Most of the time I advice my journalists friends to write news worth and not comparison and contrasting an worth news or reports – when the president said he wont be travelling he meant outside the country which costs too much, how on earth should compare the president visit to the victims of floods as part of money laundering? Brother reporter of this article go back to your books and re-study journalism.

    JB was like BK both have travelled the world more than the USA presidents, sometimes for not much a reason. APM is here to change the mindset of the people of Malawi and beyond on president responsibility – for us I think we need to assist the government by holding the 4 corner stones of MCP (Umodzi, kukhulupilika, kumvela, ndi kusonga mwambo) breaking one you have broken all.

    Malawi with APM wont be the same – mark my words.

  51. KUPITILIZA MA PULANI AKALE FROM : KAMUDZU BANDA, BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHALIKA, JOYCE BANDA[HALF] TO DAY PROF. ARTHUR P.MUTHALIKA TO LINE UP THE PROJECTS——– THANKS MAIKO AKUNJA NDI MABUNGWE OTHANDIZA.

    KOMA OSABATU.

  52. Good project BUT why not finish other projects first which have stalled due to lack of funds! Start one or two and finis to show progress. Otherwise we start too many projects at once yet we cannot finish one on time!

  53. Well those trips apm made were necessary.what do you expect him to do just sit in his office?ofcausr he is suppose to visit flood victims,attend Un and sadic functiond.Do writter do proper research and analysis before you write anything and by the way it’s not Louis vitto but Louis vuitton. Don’t write biased articles

  54. But with all these billions, one could expect him to have helped fund the launch of the BEAM without seeking external help from NAC to avoid what has become the so called NACGATE!

    Those bags are not cheap, the cheapest President Classeur bag from Louis Vuitton is £3,450 -£5450 (approx 2.4-3.8 million kwacha). thats class indeed! the State House budget can purchase these of course to ‘suit’ the office!

  56. Thats symptoms of fool journalist ,does not weigh government functions and Party functions.stop jeolous ,accept what is good and rebuke where necessary.

  57. Common on, reporters be objective in your reporting. You cannot critcise the President of frequent travel as if he is going round distributing chickens. Are you certain, the opening and ground breaking of Luanar and Mombera Universities should be delegated? The ground breaking of the Livingstonia road,public sector reform programme. The arguments raised are nonsensical and not helpful for the development of the country

  58. Very stupid author of this article. That’s just a normal wheel Barrow that has been repainted gold. As a head of state there’s nothing wrong in painting it gold. His Louis vuiton briefcase is also befitting for a president. Did you expect him to use chintu cho luka kapena? Mukamasowa zo lemba muzingo kala chete. Idiot.

  59. That’s gold spray pain walala. Kachitinih kamoza pela 750 kwacha to spray the wheelbarrow . No news whatsoever. You r just displaying your first class honours hatred of peter

  60. Kodi nkhani izingokhala Peters wealth kungachere?? Zandikwana. Pezani zina zolemba kapeba nanu mukabe zanu

  63. A Gwede ngati umphawi wakuswani pezani zina zopanga osati useless n baseless shit u r arguing bout here..this is mere jealous n rubbish reporting at its worst. ..

  66. Foolish poor writers, hate or despise him doesn’t mean his status will change, pangani zanu mwina mkukhala ndi dzina, I do believe majority of these writers are cockroaches and do have pig vision that’s why you are always write negative about our nation.

  68. NyasaT, bwanji osangokamba za zomwe zachitika friday than kufukula zina nzina? this doenst impress us readers. mpaka kukamba za wealth, si zimenezo mwatiuza kale? eish be professional pliz.

  69. Muthalika has made 11 appearances from January and you say he is doing exactly the same as JB. Serious? Have you made an assessment to see how many trips JB made in the same period last year? In statistical analysis you use figures. The way you have articulated the stats for Peter, just do the same for Joyce over the same period in respective years: then you will draw a conclusion on whether the differences are significant or negligible.

    Secondly can you analyse the importance of the trips the Presidency is making? Is a ground breaking ceremony weighing the same as distribution of ufa and stunted chicks? Are we saying we are unable to draw a line between duties worth the President’s attention and that of a Disaster Preparedness ClerK. We better bring to the media something that has been critically scrutinised unlike basing facts on our vices and propaganda

  70. These are state functions idiot! Very different from kugawa nkhuku ndi abakha. Where is your reasoning. Be careful, you may die young due to Mutharika hatred

  71. for your info wanga gwede, wheelbar anagula ndi a moita angil, or what is the cost of that wheebar kuti mpaka ikupatse story? i think ndiwe mphawi mumtima, pali nkhani apa? umaganiza bwanji? simungalembe zothandiza or kuyamikira zanseuwo kuti usintha miyoyo yawanthu in such such ways? amalawi negative always?

  72. This stupid, bustard and empty minded writer is run out of ideas. How can you Waist Nyasatimes’ resources going all the way to the North just to bring us a ‘gold coated wheelbarrow story’ if you are intoxicated with jealous and envy plz do not show it in this way. Muphulika, simunati. By the way all 11 trips u hv mentioned are wealth to be attended by the president.

  75. Muzikhala ndizolemba za zeru zoti ife anthu akumudzi mukatiuza zitipindulira, you r the same pple you was critics the HE for not doing rallies whether official or not, so wts a problem for the HE have 11trips for the past 3 months. bwanji iweyo walemba nkhani imeneyi umupemphe HE kuti bambo wako ndiye azigwira ntchito imeneyi. kazilemba zinthu zoti mawa mudzalandile nazo mphoto kuti mumalemba nkhani zachitukuko osati za umve zanuzo.

  76. I am very sure that the president did not choose the color of the wheelbarrow because if given a choice he would prefer blue.And Malawians must know that APM was not a junior clerk when working oversees. If he bought a less expensive house it shows that he is economic that’s why he has accumulated billions. A good thinker and deserves to be a president of Malawi.

  78. APM should declare his wealth,he has declared.Critics have already started APM has declared too much wealth….My question is how much do you want him to declare?

  79. Let me guess its Tenthani. Always finding faults. He is a billionaire and remember its investment.

  80. “All is vanity, vanity of vanities…..” Who benefits from all those billions in the banks? Of course other people and not necessarily the owner. Remember, you do not need all this money to lead a comfortable life. Your body can just accept a handful food, yet you have plenty to eat, very small area of space to sleep, yet you build a mansion with plenty of bedroom. You have plenty of garments to put on, yet you put on one garment at a time. Let out some of this money. Remember money belongs to Caesar, so take to Caesar what belong to him.

  81. Mr Director of Assets Declarations, if the publication of assets declared will mean this kind of ridicule, then I am worried that the Law is either bad or is not being applied the way it was intended. All this uncontrolled talk. I know Peter is a public figure, but I am also a Public Servant who declared my assets and certainly I will hate the law if I am to have my assets ridiculed this way. My understanding is that the access to the assets declared was to be for a justifiable reason. Any abuse was supposed to be dealt with.

  82. nkhani kulemba page lathunthu cause wina wagwiritsa ntchito wheelbar ya gold!! ash!! nyasa bwanji kodi!! mudaululanatu kuti mudadya kuti muzinyoza pano or akadapanda kuulula anthu akadaona okha sure! nanga pali nkhani apa! moti nkulemba kuti anthu awerenge’ president adagwiritsa….. nkumati ndalemba anthu adziwe what for?

  84. I once saw Obama when he assisted folks that were affected by flooding, and it constantly makes me wonder why Malawi presidents push a wheel barrow even on red carpet! and go crop inspecting in shoes and suits and red carpets! And our presidents cannot even hold their own umbrella! Beats common sense. Some mental illness?

  85. I don’t see any problem with the wheelbarrow of briefcase.Mumafuna president wanu azioneka mosauka.He want to change the status quo so he has to make sure kuti Mzimu wa ump hawk ukhale naye kutal.By the way Proffessor is exposed therefore knows good things.Ngati chuma cake chikuoneka kuchuluka kwambiri and you suspect foul play lets follow the right procedure to have him answer otherwise I see him as someone who takes constructive criticisms.

  86. This story is pointless, you just pointed out the obvious who dont that hes now worth 4 billion. Why highlight a golden wheel barrow. Its not like its really made out of gold its just a paint coat thats not even real gold. Yes the LV bag hes a billionaire he can afford that. This article belongs to a gossip column in some magazine not the reputable nyasa we knw nkhani zakuthelani? Iwenso editor whats your job to many mistakes in you articles. Its either you get fired or resign.

  87. Akapanda kuyenda mundandaule, akayenda mundandaule. Remember One prisedent at a time, achikhala inenu dikirani nthwi ikubwera umaone chisoso cha mzako kuleka chipika chomwe chili mmaso mwanu, nsanje sikupindulirani, palibe nkhani apa.

  88. This is a tremendous development initiated by His Execellency, the President, Dr Peter Mutharika to construct this road which was ignored for a long time but very important to the people of that region. This is exactly what the villagers expected over so many years in the past. It is indeed due to the President’s humility to visit Mhuju – Rumphi and not only that but to develop the village by the provision of accessable roads. It would only be the beginning of works needed, the region is in need of other facilities which the people would point at, though the villagers do not understand how things become true. Thanks.

  90. This writer is a fake bastard, how on earth do you compare APM to JB based on these facts? Surely you should know that these assignments could not have been done anybody else apart from the president himself!

  91. THIS MAN APM IS VERY POOR.BOASTING OVER VERY LITTLE WEALTH,MAYBE COZ HE SAYS ON MALAWIAN STANDARD.BY THE WAY DID HE WORK FOR THIS LITTLE WEALTH?PPLE WHO STEAL WEALTH OFTEN LIKE TO DISPLAY THE SAME WEALTH-ASK ABOUT SANI ABACHA,MOBUTU SESEKO,FEDNAND MARCOS.THESE ARDECEPTIVE DISPLAYS .KKKKK

  92. Za K92 billion zija izi.
    Analephera kugula nyumba yowoneka ndi maso mkuluyu chonsecho akuti anali billionaire. koma kukakamira ka nyumba kochipa ku nyambadwe ndi ku lilongwe. Anzake olemera (achina Goodall Gondwe) akumanga nyumba zeni zeni (high class) ku Lilongweko, achina Mulli akugula Casa blanca osati mbofyo mbofyo anagula a billionaire o.
    Ndalama zathu anaba mkulu wake zija izi.

  93. Its not that we should dictate on what the president should do and If he has overdeclared his wealth you have chances to check on him from now. For now I believe that one can be a millionaire if he has worked in a foreign land for so long as he has done. Dont we have honest millionaires in Malawi? Malawians too much jealousy.

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