Malawians remember Bingu

President Peter Mutharika yesterday led the Mutharika family and Malawians from all walks of life in remembering the late president Bingu wa Mutharika during a memorial Mass held at Chingazi Catholic Parish in Thyolo.

The remembrance service, which was led by the Archbishop of Blantyre Thoma Luke Msusa, was, among others, also attended by some Cabinet ministers, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Mcheka-Chilenje, Bingu’s widow Callista and Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda.

The requiem Mass was followed by laying of wreaths at Bingu’s grave at Mpumulo wa Bata at Ndata Farm in the district.

Archbishop Msusa was assisted by Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese and three priests, including the one in charge of Chingazi Parish, Father Steven Pahuwa.

In his homily, Bishop Musikuwa prayed for Malawians to always strive to continue pursuing the late Bingu’s vision of developing the country.

He said Jesus Christ, who defeated death shall always help the nation to defeat problems Malawians encounter. He said there was nothing impossible if people put their trust in God.

Speaking after the Holy Mass, Archbishop Msusa said there was unity in preparing the memorial service and he thanked government for making the event possible.

He said Bingu believed in hard work and that was why he used to say ‘let the works of my hands speak for me’.

“He meant we should all unite and work together. Death is not the end of everything, let us pray for each other and have trust in God,” he said.

Arthur Masamba, who represented Bingu’s family, said it was sad that Bingu died a sudden death in his eighth year as President. He said it was a death people did not, and still do not understand.

People that laid wreaths at Mpumulo wa Bata included, Callista; his children, his brother Peter, new Agriculture minister George Chaponda, Archbishop Msusa and Bishop Musikuwa, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Samuel Tembenu and Thyolo East legislator Gerson Solomoni.n