UMZIMBA WEPRESIDANTI BINGU WA MUTHALIKA UFIKILE EMALAWI

By: Qeko

The body of the late President Bingu wa Muthalika arrived at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe from South Africa on Saturday in a gold coffin wrapped in a Malawian flag. The remains of the late president was carried in the South African military plane from where in a brief ceremony, the South African military officials handed over the remains of the president to the Malawi army.

Tens of thousands let by the Malawi new President, Her Excellency Joyce Banda welcomed the remains of the late President at the airport. A sombre mood fell over nation as Malawians welcome the remains of the late President Bingu wa Muthalika who died of cardiac arrest on the 5^th of April. At the airport in Lilongwe, 21-gun salute sounded in honour of the late president.

According to the funeral program, the remains of the former President will lay in state at the New State House in Lilongwe. On the 16^th and 17^th, Malawians from the central region will pay their last respect to the late president at the new parliament building. On the 18^th, the body will be flown to the northern region city of Mzuzu where the body will lay in state at the Mzuzu State Lodge from where those from the north will pay their last respect. 

On the 22^nd of April the body of the late president will be flown to Blantyre from where the people will pay their last respect at the President’s own Ndata Farm from where he will finally buried on the 23^rd April 2012. The late  President Muthalika has been the Malawia’s third President since independence. He ruled Malawi from 2004 until his death on the 5^th of April 2012.