Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera, is set to pay a visit at the Mpumulo wa Bata mausoleum at Ndata in Thyolo where the former head of state, Bingu wa Mutharika, lies together with his first wife, Ethel Mutharika.

The visit comes as part of the tour of the party President of the Southern region, party spokesperson, Jessie Kabwila, has confirmed.

Chakwera has described the late Mutharika as a visionary leader like the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda and, thus, deserves respect.

While some have labeled the move as political, a mere attempt at buying votes from the Lhomwe belt where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) appears strong, some commentators have welcomed the move.

Ironically, MCP’s spokesperson who will apparently be accompanying the party president on the tours of the districts in the Southern region and be available at the Mpumulo wa Bata mausoleum was a fierce critic of the late Mutharika.