Malawi former President Peter Mutharika on Monday embarrassingly failed to show off and bid farewell to his Party Vice president Dr Goodall Gondwe as earlier planned on the program.
Mutharika who initially did not go to see Goodall Gondwe while sick and also failed to visit the funeral home in Lilongwe made attempts to show up in Mzuzu during the burrial only to arrive in Enukweni some minutes after the CCAP Church has already started the ceremony.
This was also after people have already viewed the body and paid last respect to the former Finance Minister. As a “punishment” for his late coming he CCAP clergy of the Livingstonia Synod did not give a chance to Mutharika to view the body.
So far, there is no communication from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or his spokesperson on what delayed Mutharika to arrive in good time as stipulated in the programme.
It is not new to see Mutharika missing high profile funerals and everybody know Mutharika does not associate himself with funerals.
In African culture missing body viewing at the funeral is as good as failing to attend the funeral.
After he failed to show up at Goodall Gondwe’s Area 10 house in Lilongwe, social media reprimanded the former President.
In African culture , people respect death. And we envisage that at each and every stage of death of any relative and colleague we always walk together.
Goodall Gondwe was not an ordinary personality in DPP he was number two from Mutharika in his capacity as Vice President for the North.
However, instead of Mutharika rushing for condolences, he chose to be silent.
This was the best time for Mutharika to join Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in paying last respect.
Mutharika should admit that he lost elections from Chakwera hence there is talk in town “Uyu adzafa ndi mtima uyu”.
On Thursday, President Dr Chakwera paid his final respect at the residence of Goodall Edward Gondwe where people gathered to mourn and bid their farewells.
Goodall Gondwe was a Malawian Economist who served in the country’s cabinet as Minister of Finance on two occasions: from 2004 to 2009, and from 2014 to 2019.
He also held positions as Minister of Local Government from 2009 to 2010, and Minister of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment Affairs from 2011 to 2012.