In April 2012, Mutharika died of a heart attack. Over a period of 48 hours, his death was kept secret, including an elaborate flight with the body to South Africa, where the ambulance drivers refused to move the body, saying they were not licensed to move a corpse
Mu April 2012, Mutharika anamwalira ndi matenda a mtima. Kwa maola makumi anayi ndi asanu kudzanso atatu, imfa yake inali yobisika, kuphatikizapo ulendo wa pandege ndi mtembowo kupita ku South Africa, komwe oyendetsa ma ambulansi anakana kusuntha mtembowo ponena kuti alibe chilolezo chosuntha mtembo