The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) last night announced that Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party has emerged winner in the May polls. It is expected that Mutharika will be sworn in this morning. Mutharika will therefore become the fifth President of the republic.

But who is really Professor Peter Mutharika.

Peter Mutharika is a brother to the late President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika. He was born some 75 years ago in Thyolo district, Malawi where he as well did his primary school education at Chisoka primary school. From Chisoka, Mutharika was selected to Dedza Secondary school where his school mates included former finance minister, Goodall Gondwe.

Mutharika who is a professor at law received his first law degree from the University of London in 1965. Later, he obtained an LL.M degree before eventually obtaining a JSD degree. Both were obtained from Yale university in the USA.

Peter as he is fondly called has spent most of his life in the lecture room and it was not until 2009 that he joined politics as a Member of Parliament for Thyolo east.

Mutharika held various ministerial posts in the regime of his former brother which included justice, education and foreign affairs where his standing and performing is still controversial.

When his brother died in 2012, Mutharika took over the leadership of the party in an acting capacity before he was confirmed at the party’s convention in 2013.

A widower Mutharika has two daughters namely Monique and Moyenda. He is a christian of the CCAP, At. Micheals and All Angels.