Malawi VP Chilima for Sata’s funeral: Mutharika not going to Zambia

Malawi will send its vice president Saulos Chilima to attend the State Funeral of Zambia President Micheal Sata, scheduled for on Tuesday 11th November at Embassy Park the presidential burial site in Lusaka.

Sata died on 28 October in London.

President Peter Mutharika who was earlier expected to attend the funeral will not be travelling to Lusaka as he has delegated his deputy, according to an announcement by Office of President and Cabinet.

The funeral is expected to be attended by several Heads of State and Government. Including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, Namibia President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and outgoing Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza.

Secretary to the office of the vice president,Lucky Kanyamula Sikwese, said in a statement that  Chilima will leave for Lusaka Monday,10th November through Kamuzu International Airport and is expected to be back Wednesday 12th November 2014.

Mutharika  came under fire when he delegated former President Bakili Muluzi to Lusaka during the Zambia’s Independence celebrations.