Initially, it is crucial to recognize that the president or former president of Malawi, like any other person, has a right to privacy despite holding a prominent position in the public eye.
No wonder, debates have ensued in various social media platforms as what really constitutes personal, private and public visits by the former or state president of Malawi.
A couple of days back, ex-president Lazarus Chakwera declared that he would be taking a personal trip to Dubai for about two weeks to relax and enjoy his vacation.
It was surprising to many Malawians that the expenses for his private journey were completely covered by taxpayers’ funds.
Critics argue that why is it necessary to call it a personal trip when public funds are being utilised.
Similarly, the current president, Peter Mutharika, also traveled to South Africa for a trip that was labeled as a private visit.
To everyone’s surprise, APM traveled to Bakili Muluzi Airport with Government officials and used public funds to charter a plane.
Let’s start with the basics. A presidential personal trip is defined as a voyage undertaken by the president, regardless of their current or past status, that is not associated with official state responsibilities.
Personal trips have personal motives such as visiting family, holidaying, or attending a private event.
It is important to appreciate that personal trips are funded personally or by private sponsors and do not involve government resources such as security, official aircraft, or diplomatic protocol.
Therefore, the recent travels of Chakwera and Mutharika are not personal as they utilized government funds.
Next, let’s move forward to presidential private trips which are initiated by the current president or former president for personal reasons but may still use some government‑provided resources.
Such benefits may include first‑class ticket entitlement or chartering a plane under the President’s Salaries and Benefits Act.
Most of the times, presidential private visits include medical appointments , family visits only that government resources may cover specific costs.
Appreciation must be in order to note that a presidential private trip is not officially announced as a state visit but may be acknowledged by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as the case may be.
In this vein of argument, it is appropriate to classify the trips of Mutharika and Chakwera as private visits, as they were funded by government resources despite having a personal purpose.
Lastly, now, let’s discuss a presidential public or official trip, which is essentially a travel taken by the president in their official role to fulfill responsibilities for the state.
Official trips made by the president serve various purposes, such as participating in summits, ratifying agreements, acting as a representative for Malawi at global conferences, or even engaging in diplomatic activities.
It should be noted that all expenses for presidential public trips are covered by the state, including security, transportation, and diplomatic protocol. These trips are also officially announced to the public.
These trips directly relate to governance, national interest, or foreign policy objectives, just to mention a few.
For example, former President Lazarus Chakwera’s extensive trips to countries such as China, Angola, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the USA were official diplomatic endeavors with the goal of enhancing relationships and wooing investments.
It should be emphasized that President Mutharika, who took office in October 2025, has not participated in any official foreign trip.
In conclusion, it is crucial for the Malawi Government to accurately inform the public about the nature of the trips being taken by the current and former presidents.
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