Thousands of Malawians led by the country’s Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima on Wednesday gathered at Tawa Estate in Chiradzulu to say goodbye to former Minister of State during the reign of former President Bakili Muluzi, Patrick Mbewe.
Mbewe died on Saturday at Blantyre Adventist Hospital after a long illness.
The funeral ceremony brought together leaders of all political parties in the country including Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Muluzi, UTM President and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was represented by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa.
The funeral also saw the presence of Brown Mpinganjira, former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda, Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Charles Mchacha and other notable figures.
The funeral mass was presided over by Archbishop Traciazo Ziyaye of Lilongwe Diocese who was franked by several priest in the Diocese of Blantyre.
Mbewe was born on 17th November 1948 in Nguludi, Chiradzulu District. A Civil Engineer by Profession started his career with the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi, Escom, and also briefly worked for City of Blantyre before venturing into business.
He started with selling timber and later set up Trust Auctioneers in 1980. This gave him the platform to set up other companies such as Trust Industries which produced Lolofoam Mattresses, and later established Tawa Melamine, the first Malawian Company to produce Melamine plates and kitchenware.
He spread his business tentacles in other sectors such as hospitality and agriculture through the establishment of of the Chilembwe Lodge located at the heart of Blantyre city and Tawa Estate in Chiradzulu.
Mbewe was one of the people who founded the United Democratic Front (UDF) in early 1990s.
He is survived by Seven Children and 12 Grand Children.
