Commission of Inquiry to summon Callista Mutharika

Former First Lady Callista Mutharika will be served with summons to attend the inquiry into the death of her late husband and fallen president Bingu wa Mutharika.

Sources have confirmed that the inquiry will also soon serve summons to Peter Mutharika, the late president’s brother, who previously condemned the idea of the inquiry calling it a satanic mechanisation.

Chancellor College law expert Edge Kanyongola last week told our sister paper The Sunday Times that the inquiry summons are as legally binding as those served by normal courts.

The inquiry chaired by retired Justice Elton Singini, last week started calling for information from members of the general public on the death of the president.

According to sources close to the inquiry, the summons were expected to be served at the First Lady’s Mitundu residence Monday.

“She has to give us her part as well. The summons will be served at her house to her personally or anyone at her house. Eventually, Peter Mutharika will be summoned as well but right now, we will begin with the former First Lady,” said the source.

According to press statement signed by Singini, among the facts the commission seeks to; “establish the date and place of the president’s death; establish the cause of death, the medical attention available to the late president at the time immediately preceding his death.”

The Commission also seeks to establish what happened during the transition; between after the death of the former president and her successor Joyce Banda’s swearing in.

The late president’s wife alongside MP Agness Penemulungu, former Information Minister Patricia Kaliati are among some senior officials known to have been in company of the late president on the day he died.

Penemulungu is reportedly to have been the only official in company of the president when he collapsed at the New State House. She has, however, rejected numerous media inquiries on what happened during that fateful morning.

The Mutharika family too, rejected the inquiry but President Banda, who commissioned the inquiry, has insisted that by virtue of his office, the late president was public official.