The family of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika has prevented Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Dr Lazarus Chakwera from visiting Mpumulo wa Bata at Ndata Farm in Thyolo to lay a wreath.
Chakwera is in Southern Region conducting meetings in several areas. On Wednesday, he was in Chikhwawa and other parts of the Shire Valley.
MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said Chakwera will be in the South for 10 days during which he wanted to pay respect by laying a wreath on Mutharika’s grave.
“He [Bingu] was the president for the whole nation. He recognised Ngwazi and his achievements. The president [Chakwera] felt it proper that for the 10 days he will be in the South, he should spare some time to pay homage to the late Bingu,” said Kabwila.
But the Mutharika family says it would not be possible because of the injunction that government took against Bineth Trust that restrains them from handling anything to do with the trust.
One of Bingu’s daughters, Tapiwa Mutharika, said much as the family acknowledges Chakwera’s gesture, the plan will not materialise because of the injunction.
“Government obtained an injunction against Bineth Trust where Mpumulo wa Bata is and the visit by Chakwera is, therefore, impossible. But as a family, we acknowledge the gesture shown by the MCP leader,” said Tapiwa yesterday.
Asked whether MCP might not be gambling by associating the party with Bingu who had poor human rights and a governance record, Kabwila dismissed the assertions.
“Bingu might have had a poor human rights record. In fact, I took a leading role during the academic freedom fight. But that cannot erase the fact that he did good things like making the country food secure,” she said.
