President Lazarus Chakwera Thursday paid his last respects to veteran economist and politician Goodall Gondwe, who died in Lilongwe on Tuesday night at the age of 87.
Speaking through Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, Chakwera described the two-time former Finance minister as a true patriot who wished the best for Malawi.
According to Gotani Hara, even Chakwera, as President, was tapping wisdom from Gondwe from time to time when he [the President] was Leader of the Opposition.
She said Gondwe served in many positions, including in the civil service and Parliament, in Malawi.
Gotani Hara said Gondwe could provide counsel to lawmakers as well as Cabinet ministers.
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Hara said although Gondwe worked in many countries across the world, he always remembered that Malawi was important, adding that he was implementing in Malawi whatever he learned outside Malawi.
“Let us mourn Goodall Gondwe by celebrating good works he did as a citizen of Malawi because he was an individual who loved his country,” Gotani Hara said.
Until his death, Gondwe was Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president for the Northern Region.
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, DPP legislator Jappie Mhango said Gondwe has been struggling with a back problem in the recent past.
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Mhango said Gondwe recently travelled to South Africa for treatment and that the backache resurfaced again about a week ago and that there were plans that he go back to South Africa to see a doctor between September 5 and 6.
He said, on Tuesday, the backache became unbearable and Gondwe was taken to Adventist Hospital in Lilongwe on Tuesday night, when he was pronounced dead.
Notable faces at Gondwe’s residence Thursday included those of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, former First Gentleman retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, Cabinet ministers, DPP top officials and lawmakers.
Remains of Gondwe will be laid to rest on Sunday at his home village, Kayiwonanga, Enukweni, in Mzimba North.
