Being a Valentines Day where couples share love, red and white decorated the State House as the president engaged the 50-year-old Callista in a traditional ceremony which brought together scores of people.

Having engaged, Mutharika and his new found love will finally marry on May 1 which is Labour Day in the southern African country and a public holiday.

Shown live on the country's state television, Callista who is to become the first lady taking over from late Madame Ethel Mutharika wore a long, red dress with a teasing frills jacket which was a classy attire.

His husband wore an all white suit complete with white shoes brightened by a red tie and a red flower bouquet to match the Valentine season.

Rolls Royce

The president and the first lady arrived at the heavily decorated marquee mounted on the lawns of the State House in the Victorian-era black Rolls Royce which was used by the country's father and founder of the nation late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

The engagement was supposed to be traditional as per the tradition in the southern African country but the situation was different as there was also the cutting of the cake later like at a wedding.

The Malawi Police Band performed both local and British classic instrumentals to provide a befitting VIP musical background to the ceremony, while a new band called Noophiya Sound Vibrations performed several traditional beats and common Malawian wedding songs.

At one point, Mutharika and Callista displayed their joy by taking it to the dance floor where his children, family members and guests spent almost 20 minutes dancing to an interlude of music that turned the whole event into a frenzy of excitement and jubilation.

Typical of Malawian wedding and engagement ceremonies or Africa weddings and other engagements there was gift presentation and splashing of bank notes as the country celebrated the president’s historical day.

The news of president Mutharika engaging to his new found love came as speculation after the two were frequently seen together during public functions before it was later made official.

President Mutharika last year retained the seat of president during the general elections.

He has since this year also been appointed the African Union chairman taking over from Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi.