ECM asks Malawians to mourn Bingu with dignity

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), an umbrella body of the Catholic Church in the country, has called on Malawians to mourn the late president Bingu wa Mutharika with dignity.

In a statement released on Saturday, ECM said it had learnt with sadness the demise of Mutharika.

“The Episcopal Conference of Malawi joins all people of good will in expressing condolences to…Her Excellency Madame Joyce Banda, the First Lady, the Mutharika family and the entire nation for this sudden loss of the leader of the nation.

“We call upon all Malawians to mourn the death of our leader with the kind of dignity befitting the Head of State always ensuring that we rise above personal and political self-interests.”

ECM said in the spirit of peace and in keeping with the command of Jesus, “Peace is what I leave you, it is my own peace that I give you…..” [John 14:27], it prayed that the peace and calm that has been characteristic of Malawi will continue to prevail.

The statement was signed by ECM chairperson and Bishop of Mzuzu Diocese Joseph Zuza, vice-chair and Bishop of Zomba Diocese Thomas Msusa, Archbishop of Blantyre Tarcisius  Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe  Remi Ste-Marie, Bishop of Chikwawa Diocese Peter Musikuwa, Bishop of Dedza Diocese Emmanuel Kanyama, Bishop of Mangochi Diocese Alessandro Pagani, Bishop of Karonga Diocese Mtumbuka and auxiliary Bishop of Blantyre Archdiocese Montfort Stima.

Meanwhile, the Scotland Malawi Partnership has congratulated the Government and the people of Malawi on the orderly and constitutional transition which saw Joyce Banda sworn in as the new President of Malawi on Saturday.

Banda took over power following the death of 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika on Thursday after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Chairperson of the Scotland Malawi Partnership the Reverend Professor Kenneth Ross, said: “Today [Saturday] marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of Malawi.

“With considerable popular support across the country, and with a strong electoral mandate from the 2009 national elections, we are confident that the new President will help to bring the nation together following the economic and democratic challenges it recently faced.