Mutharika, Gertrude declared married: Malawi first couple

It’s official! A smiling President Prof. Peter Mutharika and Gertrude Maseko were declared husband and wife at St Michael’s and All Angels CCAP Church in Blantyre on Saturday.

At exactly 10:14 am, bridal party started entering the church – dressed in DPP colour blue. Patricia Kaliati – Director of Women Affairs in the party was among the front liners, as well as Henry Mussa and George Chaponda.

An elegant Maseko in a white wedding dress carrying a bouquet of flowers  swept down the aisle to marry Mutharika in the church ceremony witnessed among many others Vice President Saulos Chilima,  former first lady Callista Mutharika, Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa, Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, leader of opposition and of MCP president Lazarus Chakwera.

Peter’s children – Monique, Moyenda and Mahopela Peter Junior – from his first 30 year long marriage with Christophine, a Caribbean, were also present.

Late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s daughters and son were all present.

The Mutharika’s started their lives as husband and wife with the two simple words “I do.”

The couple looked nervous but happy and recited their vows without stumbling before Reverend Rapson Chikwenzule.

The President took a vow to take Gertrude Maseko 54,  as his wife and Gertrude also took a vow to take Peter Mutharika 74 – in a grey suit – as her husband.

Rev Chikwenzule gave a prayer of blessing of the new couple and pronounced them married at  11: 45 am.

“I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of father, son and Holy Spirit. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate,” declared Chikwenzule attracting ululation.

The First Couple signed and were presented with the Marriage Certificate after prayer by Rev Roy Zingani.

Arthur Msamba and Robert Salama served as witnesses and signed the marriage registers.

The Mutharika’s also put a ring on each other fingers with lots of cheering.

Meanwhile, a family reception will be held in the village, at the Mutharika family home at Ndata farm in Thyolo district.

Mutharika, a widower for 30 years, was sworn in as the president of Malawi on June 1.

The First Lady, who lost a former husband last year, was a parliamentarian from 2009 to 2014 and lost the seat in the just ended elections to top musician Lucius Banda of UDF.

She has a son doing tertiary education at the University of Malawi’s Polytechnic. She got divorced from her first husband more than 10 years ago.

The couple abandoned plans to travel in an open-top car through Blantyre to the presidential palace because of a persistent drizzle.

Mutharika is the third president to wed in office. Former President Bakili Muluzi married in office after divorcing his wife Anne.

The late President Bingu wa Mutharika also married while in office after his first wife Ethel died.

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