President Banda wins kudos for Mutharika’s dignified funeral
Malawi’s new President Her Excellency Mrs Joyce Banda has been praised for the most dignified way in which the fallen Malawi leader Bingu Wa Mutharika has been sent to his final resting place.
This was observed during the funeral ceremony for the late president who ruled this southern African country for eight years.
From the former president’s younger brother and Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Peter Mutharika, to his cousin Malawi’s Ambassador to China Charles Namondwe, Chairman of the Organising Committee Henry Mussa, Dean of Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Thandiwe Dumbutchena to former ruling DPP secretary general Wakuda Kamanga.
They all spoke highly on how Mrs Banda has honoured her former political ally and boss.
Said the former president’s younger brother: “Madame President on behalf of the Mutharika family would like to acknowledge your government’s honour bestowed on my friend, brother, president and indeed my hero.”
Namondwe a relation to the Mutharika’s also shared the same sentiments.
“We moved with the body of our late brother from one region to another and Madame President your government gave us overwhelming support.”
“We congratulate you for the orderly and smooth transition which helped to entrench and cement the rule of law,” Mozambican President Armando Guebeza told mourners who also included presidents from Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The Mozambican praised the late leader as one of the “greatest sons of Africa who had a distinguished career as a fully-fledged international economist” working for the World Bank, the United Nations and regional bloc COMESA.
Even political analysts and social commentators have spoken highly about the first Malawi female president. They have all hailed her for putting politics aside and give a befitting and more dignified funeral to the third president of the Republic of Malawi.
The late Bingu Wa Mutharika died of cardiac arrest on Thursday, 5th of April, 2012 at his official residence in the administrative capital, Lilongwe. He had collapsed during an official appointment with a Member of Parliament.
His personal doctors and aides rushed him to hospital but this did not yield any better results. He was pronounced dead and Mrs Banda was sworn in as President on 7th April, 2012.
