Malawi ex-chief secretary Upindi dies, tributes pour in

Malawi’s former Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Alfred Upindi died Wednesday afternoon in a South African hospital after a long battle with diabetes, his daughter, Miriam, has confirmed.

“Because of old age and having suffered diabetes for quite sometime, he had a number of complications due to diabetes and he was unable to recover, unfortunately he passed away this afternoon [Wednesday],” said the daughter.

The daughter said burial arrangements would be released later but relatives and friends were gathered at the deceased house at ITG in Limbe.

A career civil servant, Upindi, who hailed from Chiradzulu, joined government during late President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s one party regime and rose through the ranks to become Secretary in the OPC.

When winds of change blew over Malawi in 1993, the late Upindi was maintained as SPC by Dr Bakili Muluzi, Malawi’s first democratically elected president, until he retired on May 16th, 2004 having served government for about 40 years in various departments.

The daughter said after retiring from government in 2004, late Upindi focused on his business ventures which included the famous Nantipwiri Trading- transporter and distributor-, which he was running at Maselema in Limbe, Blantyre until the time of his demise.

Tributes are being paid for Upindi.

Malawi former Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Alfred Upindi
Upindi: Dies

The first democratic president, Muluzi, who maintained Upindi as Chief Secretary until his retirement,   said Upindi had  “a distinguished civil service career.”

“Upindi will be very much missed,” he said.

Former vice president  Justin Malewezi described  Upindi as “ a monument of a celebrated civil servant.”

Leader of Opposition John Tembo said Upindi was “ an eminent civil servant, someone worthy to emulate.”

Upindi  was also a wealthy businessman running Nantipwili Transport and Distributors after his retirement in government.

He had a diabetes problem.

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