Indianapolis, Indiana … News filtered out of Malawi mid-day Thursday indicating 78-year-old Bingu wa Mutharika had suffered a heart attack, and was rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital for treatment. Reports and rumors became confusing as some sources indicated he was critically ill, but being flown to South Africa for treatment, while others reported he had not survived the initial heart attack. Contacts with the Malawi Project indicated the latter was true.
By Friday morning major media outlets were updating their stories to indicate the President had died, citing government officials and medical personnel as their sources. In respect for the Malawi people, and their government, it was only after word was released by government officials, that a statement was prepared by the Malawi Project.
“It is regrettable when any national leader suddenly and unexpectedly falls ill and dies while in public office,” states Scott Gordon, President of the Malawi Project, “I speak for all of the members of our Board of Directors when I extend our condolences to the family, and the people of Malawi. We grieve with them today over the loss of their President. We pray the government will make a peaceful transition of power under the terms of the Constitution.”
Mutharika was the third President to serve the Republic since it became an independent nation in 1964. He was elected in 2004, and re-elected to a second term in 2009. He would have completed his time in office with elections in 2014. Under Malawi law the first Vice-President, Joyce Banda, will move into the Presidency.