Bingu wa Mutharika memorial today
The family of the late Bingu wa Mutharika has confirmed that it is holding a memorial service for the departed leader today.
Bingu died on April 5 2012.
Organising Committee Chairperson Francis Mphepo said the service would be open to every member of the public.
“The memorial service will start with prayers that will take place at Chingazi Catholic Parish, to be followed by the laying of wreaths at Mpumulo wa Bata Mausoleum in Thyolo District,” he said.
Mphepo said former president Bakili Muluzi had informed them that he would be in attendance.
“All is set for the memorial service of Bingu wa Mutharika and we are going to welcome all people that will be willing to attend. His brother, Peter Mutharika, is expected to make a speech after the mass and we will later on lay wreaths at his resting place,” he said.
Mzuzu University historian Chrispin Mphande said he was not surprised that people would be remembering the fallen leader today.
He said Bingu stood his ground despite facing political and economic pressure.
Mphande cited the pressure Bingu received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the Kwacha be devalued.
He also said Bingu did not compromise on the issue of same sex marriages.
Governance commentator Moses Mkandawire said Bingu contributed positively to national development efforts during his first term by, among other things, improving the country’s road network and ensuring that the economy was stable.
“He won people’s hearts in his first term of office as evidenced by the very high percentage of votes he got in the 2009 presidential election because he ably delivered, even though his second term was marred with hiccups,” he said.
Mutharika died during his second term of office.
