Ethel Mutharika

Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, led the retinue of foreign dignitaries, who also included Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Zambian President Rupiah Banda, Botswana and Zambian First Ladies, Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali, Swazi Deputy Prime Minister, former Taiwanese Prime Minister, COMESA Secretary-General Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya, ambassadors from Nigeria, Norway and South Africa, Kenyan cabinet ministers and the Zambian-based Chewa King Gawa Undi as well as hundreds of government and ruling party officials and local Malawians. Clergy at the First Lady's funeral called on the country's political leaders to unite in order to honour Mutharika. The ceremony was a rare occasion which brought together political leaders that do not normally see eye to eye. In his sermon, based Luke 13: 6 - 9, Reverend Reynold Mangisa said it was high time political leaders changed and carried on with the unity started by the First Lady's death. "The unity should not end with the mourning period, but we should see it continue," said the priest. Leader of Opposition, John Tembo, who spoke on behalf of the opposition political parties, said the death of Madam Mutharika, which he described a tragedy since it robbed Malawi of the mother of the nation, should serve as a symbol of unity for now and forever. "It is necessary that as a country we be united over this loss and that the unity continues thereafter as that is what is expected of us," Tembo said.[2] Reverend Felix Chingota's eulogy added that Mutharika emulated Jesus and described Mutharika as Jesus who was difficult to be understood by people because of having vision.[3]

In December 2010, President Mutharika unveiled the mausoleum in Thyolo.[1] This was called Mpumulo wa Bata or Peaceful Rest.[4] The opulent structure was built about 30 kilometres away from the commercial city of Blantyre in Thyolo in her honour.[1] The mausoleum is a work which was "considerably and emotionally conceptualized".[1] It consists of a dome, a gallery and a basement where her body is laid. It also contains some of her belongings.[1] Mutharika noted that it is a national monument to be visited by Malawians as part of national heritage.[1] Mutharika added that the mausoleum was a symbol of forgiveness, unity and togetherness.[3] According to President Mutharika, “No single public money was used in the construction of the monument. Some 2,000 well-wishers from Malawi and abroad funded the mausoleum”. Malawians have dubbed this as the Taj Mahal due to its high cost and extravagance.[4]

Bingu wa Mutharika was laid to rest at the mausoleum in May 2012.