Magufuli in Malawi, lays wreaths at Bingu statue: No tribute at Kamuzu grave
Visiting Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli on Wednesday visited and laid wreath at the statue of former president Bingu wa Mutharika at Parliament Building in Lilongwe.
Magufuli, who is visiting Malawi for the first time since he became Tanzania’s president in 2015, arrived in the country earlier in the day through Kamuzu International Airport where he was welcomed by President Peter Mutharika.
He, together with Tanzania’s First Lady Janet Magufuli, laid wreaths at the recently unveiled K180 million statue of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika at the entrance to the National Assembly precincts ,but his grave is at Mpumulo wa Bata Mausoleum in Thyolo.
The programme was organised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation but they did not let Magufuli to pay tribute to founding Malawi president Kamuzu Banda whose Mausoleum is in the capital city centre.
The Tanzanian leader is set to have bilateral talks with Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace amid an unresolved Lake Malawi border dispute between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by inistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Ben Botolo, two Heads of State and Government will lead in the bilateral talks between Malawi and Tanzania “on thematic areas aimed at strengthening the cordial relations between the two countries.”
Mugufuli will be hosted to a State banquet at Kamuzu Palace later in the evening.
The Tanzanian leader’s schedule includes opening of the 2019 Tobacco Marketing Season at Lilongwe Floors this Thursday.
In the four years he has been at the helm in Tanzania, Magufuli has been revered in Malawi for his bold leadership tough stance in fighting corruption and abuse of public resources.
Writing on her newspaper column, social and political commentator Emily Mkamanga, stated that Malawi leaders should emulate Magufuli of Tanzania “ who does what he says and shows steadfast political will. Malawian leaders should know that political motive is not political will”.
Kamuzu was a tinpot dictator whose 31 year reign saw thousands of Malawians murdered, incarcerated and their property and businesses confisticated by the MCP. TV was banned, assassins were sent to murder people even in exile. no Malawian was free to prosper unless he was an MCP supporter. So please dont rewrite history and make Kamuzu look like such a hero because clearly and objectively, he was not. I only salute him for his work before independence, after independence he was a disgrace. His conduct laid the foundation for the political mess we have today in Malawi. And please dont… Read more »
Adad paulendo pa 21 may
Magufuli pokhapo amugufulitsa
Very pathetic to see nepotism on paying respects to Malawian fallen heroes sad that dpp is real dead party come 21 May, 2019. My question is will dpp be happy if President Chakwera once elected president leave out Bingu Muthalika to recive his respect by foreign leaders as he had done today. How will he feel?
is the small bingu regime trying to erase Kamuzu’s Legacy? or their usual disorganised scheduling of events? Either way Kamuzu remains the first president of our country, hate him or loathe him(as is the case with this latest bingu) the MAN was visionary, was oozing developmental ideas, laid the most solid foundations to build our nation on and a patriot. Just because this latest clueless president hate him doesn’t mean Malawians will forget his work and ambition. This latest act by this president has cemented my belief that he is not a person of goodwill or better yet a Malawian.
NGATI AGOGOWA AMUWUZA MAGUFULI KUTI ASAYIKE NKHATA PA NTHUMBIRA YA KAMUZU AZIWE KUTI AKUZITEMBELERA , NDIPO MZIMU WA KAMUZU UWAKWIYIRA CHONCHO SANGAWINE CHISANKHO
MAGUFULI THE GUY WHO SPEAKS LIKE CHILIMA. NO NONSENSE IN HIS COUNTRY. YOU GO TO TANZANIA YOU FEEL HIM EVERYWHERE. ZOPUSA AYI.
Magufuli visiting Mutharika is discrediting his good works of fighting against corruption. He tell Mutharika to stop draining resources. Malawi is already poor and cant avoid to have a thief as its president.
Magufuli is so unpopular in Zanzibar such that the Zanzibaris want to break away from mainland Tanzania because the man rigged heavily to win the presidential election. So, his visit to Malawi is wrongly timed and questionable. This is a clear proof for the opposition to use in hitting back on the rigging claims made by adadi.
Your wrong, Magufuli never rigged to win presidential election, besides he was not a contestant for presidential position in Zanzibar
kkkk