Children of Malawi’s former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika and their stepmother are wrangling over his assets.
The three adult children are demanding to see a written Will which they say is missing.
Tapiwa, Duwa and the late president’s only son, Madalitso, accuse their uncle, Professor Peter Mutharika, and widow, Callista, of stealing their father’s wealth.
Sources closer to the family say the children want the Will to be read.
The children also want to know all bank accounts and who is the signatory.
Peter and Callista Mutharika
But family spokesperson, Charles Namondwe and Charles Matabwa, former ADMARC CEO and the counselor to the Bingu-Callista marriage have refused to comment on the matter.
Peter Mutharika and Callisita have also remained mute over Bingu’s will.
Mutharika’s widow obtained Letter of Administration from the High Court in Blantyre before consulting members of the family, which made her in charge of the late Presidents property.
It was widely speculated that Mutharika died intestate and only left documents about his wealth. But the children dispute this.
Sources close to the matter say Callsita is ready for a legal battle but does not want Mutharika’s biological children to drag their father’s name into public ridicule or that the family should be seen to be wrangling.
Last week the children attempted to change locks to the sprawling Ndata mansion in Thyolo which also houses the mausoleum of the late president and his first wife Ethel.
But the children claimed in a joint statementthat: “The nation may remember the fifth anniversary of our mother’s passing fell during the traditional 40-day mourning period after the burial of our father. Therefore, to remember our late mother, we [her children and grandchildren] travelled to the estate to privately commemorate her passing, her life and visit her grave. Reports of a wild party are false and defamatory.”
The children also demand to have the original copy of Mutharika’sdeath certificate but said the document is being kept secret.
Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa confirmed the verbal fight, but said police have withdrawn from the matter and asked
the warring sides to sort out their differences as a family.
Mutharika, who died of cardiac arrest on April 5 this year, raised eyebrows with the wealth he accumulated during his seven-year presidency.
Among his notable assets was the Ndata Mansion which is reportedly worth K14 billion.
Mutharika’s children nonetheless claim Callista has no claim to any property that belongs to Bineth Trust, the property vehicle for Malawi’s former President.
They have submitted what are said to be original Trust documents from their father’s lawyers, Mbendera and Associates, which indicate that trustees were the late Ethel (Mutharika’s first wife and mother to the three), Madalitso, Tapiwa and Duwa Mutharika.
Late president’s young brother Professor Peter Mutharika summoned the warring parties to a round table to resolve the issue at family level, according to his aide Ben Phiri.