President Peter Mutharika says his brother, late Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika, was a great leader who worked hard for the country.
Mutharika made the remarks this morning when he unveiled Bingu’s statue at Parliamentary Building in Lilongwe.
Bngu died on 5th April in 2012 and resident Mutharika said the former Malawi leader’s works will continue to live.
“He was a great leader of this nation, he told us that never let poverty to be our choice, he turned poverty to prosperity with dedication and passion, he worked hard for this country.
“Many Malawians who loved Bingu would have loved to see Bingu alive in this statue. They would have loved to see himself standing here. I have seen that desire for the real Bingu on social media yesterday.
“Unfortunately, Bingu will never live again. Bingu died, but his spirit still lives on. The Dreamer died, but his dream still lives on. The Visionary died, but his vision still lives in you and me,” Mutharika said.
The Malawi leader urged African leaders to work with passion as Bingu did by working with pride with one spirit and vision.
“In Bingu, we celebrate an African statesman who urged Africa to turn its resources into wealth. His African Food Basket dream inspired many Africans.
“Bingu reminded us that ‘Africans are poor, but Africa is not poor.’
“He challenged us to believe that we are a poor people in a rich world – and never to make poverty our choice.
“Bingu taught us to walk with pride and shoulders high wherever we went around the world.
“Bingu had an inspiring African Dream. He dreamt of an Africa that transforms us from poverty to prosperity. And he urged us to pursue this dream with passion, dedication and determination,” the Malawi leader said.
Representative of late Bingu Wa Mutharika family Arthur Masamba thanked government and other players who ensured that the statue should land in the country.
Masamba added that the statue resembles the great works that Mutharika brought in this country such as parliament building, MUST, roads and hospitals.
The statue of late Bingu which is six metres long and weighs 800 kilograms was sculpted in South Africa.
Under the statue there is a plaque written: “Let the work of my hands speak for me. Malawi will not be developed by non-Malawians but ourselves using our own home grown strategies”.
Different church leaders such as Apostle Madalitso Mbewe and Reverend Father Henry Zulu prayed at the ceremony .
Late Bingu wa Mutharika was the founder of Democratic Progressive Party. He ruled Malawi from 2004 to 2012.
