Govt. planning to set a holiday for Bingu

…still confused on the day of his death

In the month of remembering the life of former President Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi24 can reveal that the Malawi government is pondering over setting a day aside to remember the fallen leader.

According to a post on the page of State House, government asked the opinions of some Malawians who indicated that there should be a holiday to celebrate the life of Mutharika.

“Some people interviewed indicated that there should be a holiday on a certain day which will be used to remember Bingu,” read a post on the page that is updated from Mutharika’s press office.

An analyst has said that the comments could be interpreted that government is contemplating to have a day set aside for Bingu wa Mutharika.

“State house has no business conducting interviews on a particular subject, that is a job of MBC. I doubt if they conducted any interview but I can say that they are harbouring ambitions to have a day for Bingu,” said Emily Luwani, a social commentator and analyst.

A communications lecturer at one of the local universities who did not wish to be named said that the statement could indeed be interpreted as meaning that government has the plans to have a day for Bingu.

“It’s an ambiguous assertion but it’s appearance on that page tells a lot about the thinking of our leadership on this issue. It’s hard to draw conclusions, but it’s also impossible not to draw conclusions,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a clear confusion on the date on which the late wa Mutharika died, the state house page registered that Mutharika died on 5 April. However on Mutharika’s tombstone it is written that Mutharika died on 6 April.

In 2012, three days were floated as the dates on which Mutharika was hit by a cardiac arrest and he died. They are 5, 6 and 7 April respectively.