Bingu to be airlifted to South Africa

An air ambulance is on its way from South Africa to airlift Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika who is in intensive care unit (ICU) at Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital, Lilongwe, following a cardiac arrest.

Senior government officials have confirmed reports on the coming air ambulance. Mutharika was rushed to the hospital in the morning.

Meanwhile, senior government ministers are reportedly gathered at the residence of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Goodall Gondwe in Lilongwe for a meeting.
One of the senior ministers told Nation Online that the meeting is to discuss issues surrounding the President’s condition.

“We are meeting at Honourable Gondwe’s house to discuss the situation,” he said without disclosing the whole agenda of the meeting.

The President, according to eye witnesses, arrived at the hospital in a three vehicle convoy which included a dark green Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance.

According to a hospital worker, State House security detail cleared the car park and moved patients and hospital workers to Out Patients Department. The President was ferried on a stretcher into the hospital’s ICU.

Nation Online arrived at the hospital at 11.45am and found the President’s brother Professor Peter Mutharika conferring with Chief Secretary to the President Bright Msaka. Director of National Intelligence Services Bintony Kutsaira was also among the first arrivals at the hospital.

Later, Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito arrived in  a private car, followed by Gondwe, who was closely followed by  Health Minister Dr. Jean Kalirani.

The First Lady Callista Mutharika arrived at the hospital around 1.45pm in a Mercedez Benz (MG 337AB). She was dressed in a red jacket.

Everything was quiet at the hospital with few police officers visible outside the hospital.

The First Lady, Gondwe, Msaka, Mukhito and Kutsaira have since left the hospital.

There is still no official word from government.