Malawi on edge as the "warm heart" mourns as the head of state

Abstract

On April 5th, the Malawi Head of State, President Bingu wa Mutharika, 78, died at Kamuzu Central Hospital of cardiac arrest. While initial reports claim his body was flown to South Africa as a “formality,” it is likely senior members of the Cabinet and ruling party are buying time to manipulate the succession process before making an official announcement. Given the complexity of personalities and polarity within the Cabinet, Malawi faces a period of political uncertainty and the potential for sporadic instability.