Former President Peter Mutharika who is also leader of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has expressed shock over the death of former Commissioner of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Reverend Killion Mgawi.

Mgawi died yesterday at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Writing on his official facebook page Mutharika described Reverend Mgawi’s death as a big brow to the country.

“On behalf of the Democratic Progressive Party and my own family, I would like to extend condolences to the Mgawi family, the Nkhoma Synod and the entire Presbyterian faith on the demise of Rev Killion Mgawi. A trailblazer in his own record, it was my honour to appoint Rev Mgawi as a Commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission in 2016.

“He served the nation with the same zeal and dedication as he did to the church and the body of Christ in Malawi for over 60 years. He was one of the commissioners that guided this country through one of its tumultuous periods in which the darkness of violence clouded over the light of reason,” wrote Mutharika.

He added: “His death marks the passing of a giant repository of knowledge and indeed the drying of a fountain of wisdom. As he has taken his seat among the gallant defenders of the gospel and indeed other compatriots this country has lost this month, it is my prayer that his soul should rest in peace. May the nation and his family find comfort in the word of God as found in Phillipians 1 verse 21:

“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”