Former deputy minister of trade, Ellock Maotcha Banda will be laid to rest tomorrow at Namandanje Village in the area of Senior Chief Liwonde in Machinga District.

Maotcha-Banda died on Thursday morning at Machinga District Hospital after a long illness, according to reports made available to this publication.

Until his death, Maotcha Banda was a member of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) member.

Speaking in an interview with the press UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati expressed shock with Maotcha Banda’s death.

Kaliati said Maotcha was a reliable member who was always there for the party.