Former Malawi minister Mwamondwe dead, burial Wednesday

Former Malawi deputy minister of Transport, Public Works and Housing Gift Mwamondwe will be laid to rest tomorrow at Kasoba Village in Mtemi wa ba Temi Kyungu in Karonga District.

The late Mwamondwe died at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe yesterday morning from chest pains and respiratory complications, his uncle Green Mwamondwe confirmed.

Green Mwamondwe said his nephew had been unwell for some time but the situation worsened Monday evening when he was rushed to a clinic at Area 25 in Lilongwe.

Said senior Mwamondwe: “He was later referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital where he died this morning [Tuesday] around 08:15 hours. The Mwamondwe family has lost a pillar of strength. He was active in both political and family affairs, he will be greatly missed.”

The late Mwamondwe, who was a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), joined active politics in 2004 after his triumph as member of Parliament (MP) for Blantyre City Central Constituency (Ndirande) as an independent.

He joined DPP while in Parliament under former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika who eventually drafted him into Cabinet as deputy minister.

However, Mwamondwe failed to reclaim his seat during the 2009 general elections, losing to Eunice Makangala.

DPP secretary general Eclain Kudontoni said yesterday the party was saddened by Mwamondwe’s demise.

The deceased, who was aged 52, is survived by a wife and children.