Widow of Malawi’s third President Bingu wa Mutharika, Callitsa, was conspicuously missing at this years memorial for her departed husband.
Callitsa was Bingus second wife whom he married in 2010 after the death of his long time wife Ethel with whom had four children.
She is now Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya.
Bingus died on 5th April 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest but his brother Peter who became President in 2014 said recently his death was suspicious.
The younger Mutharika, the only surviving member of the family led the prayers at Bingus gravesite- a mosuleum he christened “Mpumulo wa Bata” at a sprawling Ndata estate.
The ceremony consisted of prayers and short speeches and laying of wreath.
Callitsa and Peter no longer speak after in 2018 she asked him to retire and pave way for his Deputy Saulos Chilima. She claimed the younger Mutharika was “too old” for the task.
She left the DPP which was founded by the late Bingu and joined Chilimas UTM.
The late Bingu despite a controversial second term is fondly remembered by Malawians for his decisiveness, infrastructure development and food security.
At the peak of his power, the late Bingu ordered expulsion of UK High Commissioner to Malawi for criticising him and also failed to apologise to families of 21 people that were shot during demonstrations against his rule on July 20, 2011.
