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Condolence messages on Bingu’s death

Henry Chimunthu Banda, Speaker of Malawi Parliament

We are all saddened by the death of the President. He was part of us in Parliament because Parliament comprises the President and other members of Parliament. It is a time of sadness for us and we wish to condole the people of Malawi and the bereaved family.

Dr. Ken Lipenga, Minister of Finance and Development Planning

Our late President brought food security to Malawi and did his best in infrastructure development. He was also a man of strong convictions. Now is not the time to focus on the past but work together to solve Malawi’s problems.

Benedicto Kondowe, civil society leader

We are saddened by the untimely death of the President, especially considering that he has died at the time the country is grappling with many challenges regarding leadership to respond to the issues. We were expecting that the situation would improve or get better. We should peacefully and respectfully mourn our President. As the nation is in deep sorrow, the civil society humbly requests the newly sworn-in President to lead in the mourning, unifying the country and providing strategic leadership as we move forward.

Dorothy Ngoma, executive director of the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives in Malawi

Personally, I feel sad that we have lost our leader. Death happens to all of us. It is a period that we must reflect and gather strength to move forward. When one is running and suddenly falls, you do not just wake up and start running again. We feel for the family, the wife and children of the President. We need to give them as much support as possible. This is not the time of fighting. We have gone through a very difficult time and it is time we need to work together as individuals, political parties and religious groups to pick up the pieces.

John Kapito, outgoing Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson

We are extending our condolences to the State and family of the late President. As the Malawi Human Rights Commission, we are asking all Malawians during this period that they must respect all laws of the land. It is important for us as Malawians to remind ourselves that Malawi is driven by the Constitution. It is important to follow the Constitution to the letter. People should understand that there is nothing that is above the Constitution, which should guide us during this difficult time. We should not pretend that we do not understand the Constitution and think that it is not what it is.

Dr. Emily Sikazwe, Women for Change (Zambia) and the Chisiza family

The Chisiza family would like to convey our sincere condolences to the Malawi nation and the Mutharika family on the death of His Excellency President Bingu wa Mutharika. In the same vein, we support and congratulate President Joyce Banda on becoming Malawi’s Head of State. We hope that her presidency will bring healing and unity to the nation.

It is also our hope that the poverty affecting Malawians will be a priority of her administration. As a woman, we believe she understands the problems that most poor households are going through and expect her to use that knowledge to implement policies that ease the suffering of the poor while supporting the creators of wealth—the private sector.

Ibrahim Matola, UDF leader in Parliament

UDF in Parliament is shocked by the sudden death of our President. We are really concerned that things have happened like this.

John Tembo, Leader of Opposition and MCP president

I think we are all saddened that we have lost a Head of State. We must convey condolences to the family, government and people of Malawi. We also want to wish government to permit the rule of law to take its space in Malawi. There was tension in the country because there was conflicting information on the matter, but this tension has now been removed because they [government] have come out clear.

Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Information and Civic Education

We are very sorry and I am really saddened by the death of the President. Condolences should go to the [bereaved] family and all Malawians.

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