Bingu’s life celebrated at Ndata

Thousands of Malawians yesterday thronged Ndata Farm in Thyolo to celebrate the life of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in April 2012.

President Peter Mutharika, young brother to Bingu, his second in command Saulos Chilima, First Deputy Speaker Esther MchekaChilenje, Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and former Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda were among dignitaries who attended Bingu’s fifth memorial anniversary.

The ceremony started in the morning with a Holy Mass whose main celebrant was the Archbishop of Blantyre Thomas Luke Msusa, assisted by Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese, Monsignor Boniface Tamani of Blantyre and some priests.

Also in attendance was Bingu’s widow Callista, and the late president’s children and relatives.

 During the homily, Msusa urged Malawians to also use the occasion to remember the six Catholic bishops who, in 1992, authored the Pastoral Letter Living Our Faith which he said helped to bring democracy in Malawi.

Twenty five years after this historic letter was issued, there is only one retired bishop alive  Allan Chamgwera of Zomba.

Msusa said Malawians should always remember to pray for the souls of those that died, as per the Catholic faith, which Bingu embraced.

He said Bingu had trust in God and the testimony was that he blessed his marriage with Callista.

He said it has been a great gift to Malawians that all presidents that have ruled them since 1964 have been God-fearing, although they have been from different denominations.

“It has been 25 years since the 1992 Pastoral Letter. That time Malawians condemned corruption, they demanded equal rights for women and children; they wanted the hospitals decongested; they wanted justice in our courts and demanded freedom of expression.

“But the question is: ‘Are we any better today?’ We know the answer, but as they say, Rome was not built in a day, let us keep working hard,” Msusa said.

The archbishop described Bingu as a visionary leader who wanted everyone developed.

He also hailed Bingu for promoting women and putting them in leadership positions.

Speaking on behalf of the Mutharika family, Arthur Peter Masamba said Bingu is remembered as a legend who found the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

He thanked everyone who turned up for the memorial and wished Bingu’s soul to rest in peace.

Francis Mphepo, speaking on behalf of the event’s organising committee, said Bingu turned around Malawi within eight years from 2004 to 2012. Selected dignitaries visited the mausoleum to lay wreaths at Bingu’s tombstone.