APM, Callista split on Bingu memorial
In his eulogy during the funeral of his brother and then president Bingu wa Mutharika on April 23 2012, Peter Mutharika—then a Cabinet minister—assured his brother’s widow, Callista: “You will never walk alone”.
Mutharika spoke amid a change in the political tide that had seen then sidelined vice-president Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP) ascend to the presidency in line with constitutional order.
Yesterday, Mutharika, who ousted Banda in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, and members of his family attended Bingu’s memorial service in Thyolo where the former president was laid to rest.
However, conspicuously missing at the private event that started with a church service and later laying of wreaths on Bingu’s grave at Mpumulo wa Bata mausoleum at Ndata Farm was Callista.
In an interview, Callista, who has sparked a heated political debate after openly declaring her support for Vice-President Saulos Chilima as governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate in next year’s tripartite elections instead of her “aged” in-law, Peter, said she had another Bingu memorial service in her home, Bunda area in Lilongwe.
Responding to a question on why she did not attend the service in Thyolo and lay a wreath on her husband’s grave, she said: “I don’t know. I also had another memorial service in Bunda. So, I attended that one.”
The President led the Mutharika family during a memorial mass celebrated by Father Damazio Ngoma at Chingazi Catholic Parish in Thyolo District.
In attendance at the Thyolo memorial service were two of the late Bingu’s three children—Tapiwa and Madalitso, Cabinet ministers, Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara, other senior government officials and senior members of DPP.
Unlike in previous years when the family held high profile services, notably since 2014 when Mutharika became Head of State, this year’s was low key.
In his homily, Ngoma described the late Bingu as a visionary leader who people should strive to emulate.
Speaking after the mass, the President called on Malawians to stand united, saying doing so would benefit the country.
While saying the country has had two presidents from the same family and Thyolo District, referring to himself and Bingu, the President said discipline and hard work is what has earned them success; hence, the need for Malawians to follow suit.
Mutharika also donated K1 million to the parish.
On whether she was invited to the Thyolo memorial, Callista asked The Nation to find out from the family.
On Callista’s absence, a representative of the family, Arthur Peter Masamba declined to comment, referring the matter to presidential adviser Francis Mphepo who was in the organising committee of the memorial service.
Mphepo said as a member of the family it was strange thatCallista waited to be invited.
He said: “I am not a member of the [Mutharika] family, but you don’t expect a family member to be sent an invitation. An invitation is sent to an outsider.”
Bingu died on April 5 2012 after suffering from a cardiac arrest. n
