[2] Therefore, the failure to announce his death resulted in speculation over the real health of the president and over whether the succession procedures would be followed as outlined in the constitution.
This meant that he by-passed his sitting Vice President, Joyce Banda but expected her to support this bid.
According to the Constitution of Malawi, however, a vice president has to be removed through an impeachment process requiring a majority of the National Assembly.
"[3] President Mutharika had private meetings with Member of Parliament Patricia Kaliati and later Lilongwe legislator Agnes Penemulungu.
[4][5] Senior members of the Democratic Progressive Party-led cabinet did not notify the public of the death of the President from a heart attack.
[6] An online journalist, Andrew Evans, from National Geographic used Twitter to confirm reports and broke the news to international press.
[7] The Malawian army switched its security detail and went to the home of Vice President Joyce Banda in order to protect her in accordance with the constitution of Malawi.
The initial emergency meetings took place at the residence of the vice president of the party, Goodall Gondwe.
The ministers present included Ken Lipenga, Catherine Gotani Hara, and Peter Mutharika, but it is largely unclear who supported the events and who opposed it since this was not a unanimous decision.
[1] Senior members of the cabinet led by Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Information, appeared on television and announced that the president was not well and that the country would be updated on his health.
[5] The US, one of Malawi's donors, expressed alarm at the official silence and said it was confident that the constitution would be upheld and came out in support of Banda.
[16] By March 13, twelve top officials had been arrested, this included ex-ministers Henry Mussa, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Jean Kalirani, Patricia Kaliati, Kondwani Nankhumwa, the Deputy Chief Secretary to the Government, Necton Mhura and Duncan Mwapasa.