admin
at his farm in Thyolo district, just outside Blantyre at a ceremony witnessed by thousands of Malawians and African leaders who included President Mugabe.
The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and senior Government officials were part of the Zimbabwean delegation at the State funeral. Dr wa Mutharika, who died of heart failure early this month, was buried next to his late first wife Ethel at a family mausoleum at his Ndata Farm. He built the mausoleum and named it “Maphumulo wa Bata” which means “peaceful rest” metres away from his farm house.
Proceedings began with President Mugabe, Amai Grace Mugabe and fellow African leaders President Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia), President Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Jakaya Kikwete, President Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), representatives of other leaders from the Sadc region and heads of regional and multilateral organisations viewing the body of Dr wa Mutharika which lay in state at the farm house.
New Malawian President Joyce Banda welcomed other leaders. The leaders also signed a book of condolences at the house.
Body viewing was punctuated by singing by choirs from the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations. Dr wa Mutharika was Catholic. The body was then carried to the front of the mausoleum where thousands of mourners gathered.
Speakers gave their eulogies followed by a funeral mass conducted by a Catholic priest.
President Banda said Dr wa Mutharika left the nation a legacy of self belief, independence and hard work”.
“I will do all my best to follow what he wanted us to do to move this country from poverty to prosperity,” said President Banda.
Dr wa Mutharika’s brother Professor Peter Mutharika described him as a loving “brother, father and grandfather” who shall be dearly missed. “I know sometimes he made mistakes as we all do. But if he made mistakes it was out of misjudgment and not evil,” said Prof Mutharika, who is Foreign Minister in the Malawi government.
He vowed to continue his brother’s legacy and pledged to ensure the Democratic Progressive Party survives.
President Banda formed her own People’s Party after being fired from DPP.
President Guebuza, who spoke on behalf of Sadc leaders, described Dr wa Mutharika as a career economist who had contributed to the development of the region, Africa and the world.
“The tragedy that befell this great country, Sadc and the continent defies description,” he said.
Online Reporter