By Burnett Munthali
Former President of Malawi and leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, has dismissed recent allegations made by Karan Thom as baseless and politically driven. In a press release issued on January 25, 2025, Presidential Spokesperson Shadric Namalomba MP refuted the claims made during Thom’s interview on Sunday MBC Exclusive, accusing political opponents of using Thom to undermine the Mutharika family for electoral purposes.
The Mutharika family’s first encounter with Thom dates back to 1999, when he was introduced at a rally in Njamba by two rival politicians aiming to discredit Bingu wa Mutharika, who was contesting the presidency under the United Party (UP). At the time, Thom, allegedly in his sixties, claimed to be a member of the Mutharika family. To clarify the matter, family elders invited Thom to their village to explain his connection. However, Thom failed to provide any credible evidence of his ties to the family.
Ahead of the 2019 elections, Thom reappeared, this time allegedly supported by another opposition politician. He attended a rally in Goliati, where he was reportedly promised a house. However, this promise was never fulfilled. With another election on the horizon, Thom has resurfaced, now claiming in an interview on MBC that he is the son of Professor Mutharika’s father’s younger brother.
The Mutharika family has unequivocally rejected Thom’s claims. According to the family, Mutharika’s uncle lived most of his life in Tanzania, returning to Malawi in the late 1960s with his Tanzanian wife and their two children. The family confirmed that the uncle’s only two children currently reside in Chisoka village and Mulanje. The press release described Thom as an “imposter and a dishonest person,” dismissing his assertion of having designed the DPP’s chimanga folo (maize cob) logo as completely false.
Professor Mutharika’s camp has accused the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of orchestrating Thom’s reappearance as part of a political strategy. “We want to urge the MCP and other failed politicians to desist from exploiting this man for their political gain,” the statement read.
This development underscores the frequent use of controversial figures during election periods to discredit opponents. As Malawi heads toward the 2025 elections, the Mutharika family has called for an end to smear campaigns and has urged the public to remain alert to false narratives.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Mutharika family’s commitment to their legacy, describing Thom’s allegations as a desperate attempt to tarnish their reputation during a highly charged political season.
