Different memories

Thousands of Malawians mourning the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika came by foot, bicycle and motorized vehicle to southern Malawi on Monday to attend Mutharika's state funeral.

The president's embalmed body was laid to rest in a mausoleum dubbed "Taj Mahal" by the local media. Mutharika spent years of his presidency building the white marble edifice where his first wife Ethel is also buried.

President Joyce Banda, who succeeded Mutharika, urged Malawians and African heads of state to remember the late president positively.

"He was not an angel," Banda said. "He made mistakes, so let us not remember the bad things - let us remember about the positive things about Bingu."

African leaders, who included Mutharika's closest ally, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, as well as the presidents of Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania, praised Malawi for the smooth political transition.

"We congratulate you for the orderly and smooth transition which helped to entrench and cement the rule of law," Mozambican President Armando Guebeza told mourners.

Man of mixed fortunes

Mutharika leaves behind a mixed legacy; he will be remembered as a leader who pursued some successful economic policies during his first term in office, improving food security in one of the poorest countries in the world. However, many Malawians will point to his second term, which began in 2009, as the onset of the economic crisis the country currently finds itself in.

Bingu wa Mutharika's leadership was plagued by rows with foreign donors and civil society groups as the economy faltered.

By the time of his death on April 5, Malawi was short of fuel, foreign exchange reserves and other essentials. The big blow to his legacy came on July 2011, when his security forces killed at least 19 protesters who had rallied against his policies.

Most key donors, such as the United Kingdom and United States, shunned the nation during the period of strained relations with Mutharika.

This is bound to change after his death: the African Development Bank has said it is willing to provide $45 million (34 million euros) to help Malawi's budget and to support President Joyce Banda's effort to revive the economy.

Author: Chrispin Mwakideu (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Daniel Pelz / mll