Malawi leaders pay tribute to Ruth Tembo: Burial Saturday

January 6, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 63 Comments

Tributes have poured in for the Mrs Ruth Tembo, much-respected wife for former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo following news of her death on Monday.

Wife to former MCP pesident John Tembo on the right at the rally
Wife to former MCP pesident John Tembo: She will be sadly missed

Leading the growing tributes, Tembo’s successor in MCP, Rev Dr Lazarous Chakwera said he is deeply saddened with the death of Mrs Tembo, saying she would be mourned “by all Malawians”.

Said Chakwera: “I am  deeply saddened to announce on behalf of the Malawi Congress Party the passing of our dearly loved mother, Mrs Mamaria Ruth Tembo, wife to our former president Rt. Hon. J.Z.U. Tembo, who passed on to be with Lord in the late hours of 5th January 2015.”

Chakwera said Mrs Tembo was” a woman of great outstanding virtue” not only to JZU Tembo but to all in the MCP and the entire nation of Malawi.

“On behalf of the Malawi Congress Party family, and on my own behalf, I convey our heartfelt condolences to Rt. Hon J.Z.U. Tembo, the children and the entire family both here at home and in Lesotho,” Said Chakwera.

In honour of Mrs Tembo, Chakwera appealed to all members of MCP and the nation of Malawi to observe a period of mourning from until the day of her being laid to rest.

President Peter Mutharika also offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the Tembo family.

“In such times as this time when the dark cloud has engulfed the Tembo family, MCP family and indeed the Malawi nation, Gertrude [First Lady] and I pray for God’s comfort to Hon. JZU Tembo, the children and the entire Tembo family,” said Mutharika in his tribute.

Mutharika said “the beautiful soul of Ruth Tembo rest in God’s eternal peace”, adding that “To be absent with us, is to be present with the LORD.”

Former president Bakili Muluzi said he was “very saddened” with the death of Mrs Tembo, saying she was always immensely supportive to the former MCP president.

“I am deeply shocked to hear about the untimely passion on of Mrs Ruth Tembo,” said Muluzi.

“I have known and worked with Hon Tembo for over three decades. I convey deep condolences to Hon Tembo, children and the entire Tembo family.”

Malawi’s immediate former president Joyce Banda also paid tribute to Mrs Tembo as “woman of integrity”.

Banda said Mrs Tembo” will be remembered as a unique figure and sadly missed.”

Retired politician Gwanda Chakuamba also added his voice to the tributes, saying Mrs Tembo did not involve herself to petty politics though she supported her husband.

“She was above petty politicians and lived as a shining example of a wife to a leader,” said Chakuamba.

Meanwhile, family has said burial arrangements will be announced later but there is a tentative program of Saturday in Dedza.

The family said vigils will be held from 4pm to 6pm at residents of Tembo in Area 10/440, Lundu Street, Lilongwe.

According to the family, Mrs Tembo and JZU Tembo had four children together who are Dudu, John Tembo Jnr, Themba and Dalitso.

Ruth Tembo, originally from Lesotho, died at Medi-Clinic in Lilongwe after a short illness.

The family has given number of Shephered Tembo (0990544314 and Dalitso Kadzamila (0882002000) for contact on matters regarding the funeral.

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63 replies on “Malawi leaders pay tribute to Ruth Tembo: Burial Saturday”

  3. I RESPECTED HER FOR HER NOT TO BE PART OF THE ACTIVE POLITICS BUT SUPPORTING HON TEMBO. THIS MAKES ME REMEMBER MAYI ETHEL MUTHALIKA AKA MKAZI WA BINGU. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII KOMA ZINAZI UUUUUUUUUUUUU KAYA

  6. Kumanda kunka ndiwanthu uko…. Kutsala zitserekwete… Zitserekwete… Zitserekwetee (singing). Sorry for that irreplaceable loss, do sorry Obaba o Tembo.

  17. My condolences to the Honorable Tembo family, the Malawi Congress Party, and the entire nation of Malawi. Only God knows why this had to happen. May He comfort you in this trying time. Shalom.

  19. Many a time when great people die, you turn to know their lifestyle in a very special and smart way, the way we are knowing about our late dear mum Ruth Tembo who never showed up to the masses that behind a successful political figure like JZU Tembo she was! She gave her advice in silence and successfully her husband progressed in all spheres of life including that of politics. JZU Tembo had successfully led and assisted leading Malawi nation for about 50years! Who else has contributed to Malawi’s political cause like him? Very few (if any) but may be, no body so far! Let us not only weep at her passing on but learn two or three things she taught us before she left. May her soul Rest In Peace!

  21. Anali mai ozichepesa ngati si mkazi wabwana wamkulu. Ambirife sitimamudziwa. Ena amanena kuti akazi a bwana Tembo amakhala kunja. Aaaa? Ambuye mukhale ndi a bwana Tembo. AUSE MUMTENDERE!

  24. Let me join the community in offering my condolence for the timely death of Mrs Tembo. Many are saying she was a good mam for a political leader – amen.

  32. Its sad to us all MCP members tikusowani mayi wathu okondedwa.Mulungu yekha odziwa kutonthonza atitonthonze tonse.

  35. Let us unite like what we are seeing today in times of dark clouds. This is what we call united in adversity. God bless all those who are feeling the death of Mrs Tembo.

  37. A beautiful woman who carried herself so well with grace, class, and dignity osati chiboliboli chili ku State house. Sleep well Mrs Tembo.

  40. My deepest condolence to JZU for the loss of your loved wife. You used to be together crossing Livulezi river bridge coming here at Golomoti trading centre for your political rallies.

  41. Sindikudziwa ngati alipo amene akhoza kunena kuti anawamvapo amayiwa akuyakhula penapake ngati mayi Patricia Kaliyati kapena Joice Banda ndi kuti n

  42. She used to cross Livulezi river bridge when coming here at Golomoti with her husband for party meetings! May her soul rest in ertenal peace!!!

  46. Zoona a Malawi tikhoza .kugwilizana ndi kumayankhula chiyankhulo chimodzi chomwe ndi kutukula dziko lathu mosatengela kuti timachokela ,pakati,kumpoto kapena kum’mwela monga momwe infa ya Mai Tembo yatibweletsela pamodzi. Atsogoleli athu nonse timakukondani a Gwanda,a Bakili,Mai Banda,a Chakwela,a Muthalika. Mulungu dalitsani Malawi,tonthozani banja la a Tembo.

  49. Ndi chinthu chovuta pakusiyana ndi bwenzi la pa banja lomwe wakhalitsana nalo kwa zaka zochuluka.tipereka mzimu wa mayi ukuuse.sorry to the family.the MCP family.

  56. I will remember Ruth Tembo as a respected woman who could not indulge in silly politics. She was a woman of the house . Rest in peace

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