Bingu will: Callista left out, Peter given millions

Former Malawi first lady Callista Mutharika is not among the beneficiaries of her deceased husband’s estate, according to the “last will” of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika seen by The Nation.

Mutharika, according to the will, distributed his multi-billion kwacha worth estate to his children, brother Peter and grandchildren, among others.

The former president, who died of cardiac arrest on April 5 2012, stated in his will titled ‘My Last Will and Testament’ written after the death of his first wife, Ethel, that no one of his relatives other than those mentioned in the document shall have any claim to the estate nor receive anything.

Mutharika, whose family is currently fighting a court battle where government is demanding K5 billion in unpaid estate duty from the deceased’s estate, gave his only son Madaliso Mutharika $200 000 (about K69 million at the current exchange rate) and K5 million in the local currency.

The former president, who declared in the will that all bank accounts be closed forthwith after payments and the balances thereof paid to Bineth Trust Fund Account number 024/00/032774/00 at Standard Bank, Capital City Branch in Lilongwe, also allocated $200 000 and K5 million to each of his daughters Tapiwa and Duwa.

His only brother, Peter, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate in next year’s elections, is due cash payments of $200 000 and K5 million.

The former president further allocated $200 000 and K3 million to his step-daughter Noma Penelope Mutharika, from his marriage with Ethel.

The will, which expressed Mutharika’s wish to be buried at Ndata Mausoleum in Thyolo next to his late wife Ethel upon his death, also apportions $100 000 (about K34.5 million) and K3 million to grandson Tambirai Mutharika, $75 000 (about K25.8 million) and K2 million to each of his sister’s grand-daughters Dalitso Kajao and Judith Mphepo.

Last on the list is his late wife’s grand-daughter, Shungu Nyoni, who walks away with $100 000 and K2 million.

Ethel died of cancer on May 28 2007 and about two years later in 2010, while in his second and last constitutional term of office, Mutharika married Callista, his former Cabinet minister.

In the will, Mutharika declared details of his real estate scattered all over the country and bank accounts.

The estate includes farms in Thyolo, Lilongwe and Kasungu, five houses in Lilongwe and four vacant plots in Blantyre.

The former president also stated that there is a large number of vehicles that belong to Bineth Trust, Bingu Silvergrey Foundation and the University of South Malawi. There were also personal vehicles.

Other properties, he stated, are several machinery, equipment, tractors, trucks, pickups, saloons, ploughs, planters, rippers, harvesters, water pumps, portable water tanks and other agricultural implements located at the New State House in Lilongwe, Sanjika Palace in Blantyre and at his other private locations.

The bank accounts he held internationally include account number 0000077740, United Nations Federal Credit Union, Long Island City NY11101-4605, USA and a joint account with Mrs D. M. Kafoteka in US dollars and euro, optimum account number 58099848, Standard Bank Jersey Limited, Channel Islands.

Mutharika had shares with Continental Discount House namely Deal ID 210620070067, Deal ID TBA and Deal ID 1105200700220.

In Zimbabwe, Bineth Trust had an account number 0101753055700 at Standard Chartered Bank Limited and a joint account with late Ethel, account number 5439607, Barclays Bank Limited, Zimbabwe.

In South Africa, Bineth Trust, according to the will, has a USD account number 91-6000090-5, at Bank of Taiwan, Johannesburg.

There are several other bank accounts locally for Bineth Trust and Silvergrey Foundation. The foundation also has shares in National Bank of Malawi, Standard Bank, Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited and NBS Bank.

Meanwhile, government has frozen all but one account in a case the State is claiming K5 billion unpaid estate duty from Mutharika’s estate.

The Mutharika family, according to court records, is going to challenge the claim at a hearing at the High Court in Zomba set to begin today.

Government is claiming that Mutharika’s monetary wealth and real estate amounts to K61 billion (about $151m).

The Mutharikas have roped in three lawyers, namely, Kalekeni Kaphale, Julius Nyambo and Frank Mbeta to fight the battle.