Ethel Mutharika

Ethel Mutharika (b. circa 1944 - d. May 28 2007, Lilongwe, Malawi) was the first lady of Malawi and wife of the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Mutharika was originally from Zimbabwe. She had been married to President Bingu wa Mutharika for 37 years at the time of her death. The couple had four children together. Mutharika was known for her charitable work and had established the Ethel Mutharika Foundation in an effort to help the poor of Malawi.

Mutharika died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 63. Following her death it was revealed that she had received cancer treatments in Malawi, South Africa and France, as well as a number of other European and Asian nations.

Mutharika was given an official state funeral. Her body was laid in state at the New State House in Lilongwe. Her body was then moved to the cities of Mzuzu on June 2nd and Blantyre on June 5th. Her funeral took place at the Mutharikas farm in Thyolo, a tea growing district in southern Malawi.

External links

* [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070529220038905C896993 Malawi in mourning after first lady's death]
* [http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=4882 First Lady Ethel dies]
* [http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=899132007 Scotsman.com: Malawi's memorials to late first lady raise eyebrows]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/29/africa/AF-GEN-Malawi-Mutharika.phpInternational Herald Tribune: Malawi's first lady to be buried next week]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/09/africa/AF-GEN-Malawi-Mutharika.php International Herald Tribune: Mugabe joins mourners at funeral of Malawi's First Lady]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/28/africa/AF-GEN-Malawi-Obit-Mutharika.php International Herald Tribune: Malawi's First Lady Dies]