Suffering Smile

This story was published in the Daily Times special supplement that was carried out within a week after President Bingu wa Mutharika’s wife demise. I HAVE JUST REPRODUCED IT

…"She closed her eyes peacefully today this afternoon, Monday 28th May 2007. A dark cloud has fallen over the state house and the nation...”
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The story of how Madam Ethel Mutharika lived could hardly have been less inspiring – or touching. Possibly even before finding herself at the State House, she had one day sat down with President Dr Bingu Wa mutharika. Possibly she had said to him, “there are a lot that I can do for this country.” It is intricate to gauge the response from the-then mere politician, but one thing should have been very obvious, crystal clear: “go ahead.”
Being a man who believes the destiny of Malawi is in the hands of Malawians, the suggestion from the First Lady was timely. “Don’t ask what the country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country,” the long journey begun.
The way she lived is ineffable to illustrate. Others saw her smile, a beacon of good manners - smile that soothes those in suffering. It is until the nation staggered to reconcile the sad news of her death on that cloudy afternoon that many grasped the sort of life she led – the sea of suffering she swam in. More than the one that some people went through, perhaps.
“In her pain and suffering, she smiled, reached out to her women empowerment projects, did her farming and everyday from my City Centre office could see her four vehicle motorcade passing,” Kondwani Munthali, who has interacted with her in various occasions writes, adding that she is a woman that the first citizen of the country hugely relied upon.
Her death is one of the most strictly grief in the modern Malawi, the least thing imagined, but as Mzati Nkolokosa says, “life is a journey,” people have different times of reaching their destinies. For her, the time for her destiny, had clocked.
She was a quite lady. At times she looked as if she doesn’t speak. Seeing her making utterances in public was a rare occasion. Even during such occasions, all she did was have a brief speech. It’s only the works of her thinking that spoke. A lot! Her works echoed, and are still reverberating a year after her untimely bereavement.
Born to a Malawian medical assistant in Zimbabwe and a Zimbabwean mother, Madam Mutharika was until her death had been married to President Mutharika for thirty-seven years. They had four children and several grand children.
Though gone for ever, Ethel Mutharika will continue to be remembered for being a respectable voice for the underprivileged and marginalized girl children and the elderly. The coming to life of Ethel Mutharika Foundation was not just one of those set-ups that are there with no vision. It was established to serve the lives of girls and the elderly. The foundation after her death is still buzzing with all sorts of activities. Recently, the country witnessed the coming together of various artists. The funds realized are not for the enrichment of the artists. The monies are there to help the target groups – the orphans, the underprivileged, girls and the elderly.
"The foundation is sourcing finances to build a modern orphanage in the country and we will maximize this event to raise the required funds for the underprivileged. We have therefore set a reasonable entry fee so that many people should patronize," Tay Grin had told the Nyasa Times as pertaining to the event.
In the three years she had been a First Lady, Madam Mutharika showed that she was a very generous lady. This is despite battling with cancer. In the north, especially Karonga she established gardens that are there to help the orphans get some care.
She had also been helpful to the girls. She lived a life to inspire many. Ethel Mutharika during the luncheon with the Lilongwe Girls 2005 MSCE class, she was happy among the children. Her speech was very inspiring to the girls. She believed in empowering girls so are other youths.
She even allowed the youths to visit her Mitundu farm; she it is reported that she personally supervised it. She was a farmer, so focused and dedicated. This is in line with the calls to make Malawi, a food secure country.
At a time when all sorts of nasty things were happening for the girl- child, she opened her mouth. She called for the protection of the girl-child, from all extremes of abuse. Unfortunately she succumbed to death before finishing her programs.
Her death, just like that of many but rare individuals with unique approaches to life, is not only tearful one. It has patches from which lessons can be drawn. As her face worms someone back to her sixty-three year life she ploughed through and contributions she made to the nation, it’s a lesson enough that whatever people do, they should do that with the nation in their mind.
She might be dead, but her smile in the thicket of suffering is still illuminating up to date. She smiled in her own sufferings, now her works are trying to brighten the faces of many people suffering in the country in various ways.
Death in its crude form is not welcome, however good or bad an individual is. It is probably inevitable - but it was shocking. The death of Madam Ethel Wa mutharika was not welcome. No wonder, Malawi government described the death of Madam Mutharika as a “deep sorrow and a great sense of loss.” More calls of a great loss followed.
But death can inspire. Basing on one’s approach to life, the people may get inspired. Especially when you have a mission especially for the nation, death means nothing. The late first lady walked the talk. She smiled at a time when she was supposed to grumble. She did not smile to herself, but to the whole nation- really a good lesson. Reminding the people to lead a positive life, even when in the storm, the people must carry and light a candle.
President Dr Bingu Wa mutharika is such an individual that has been inspired. He fears no death any longer, “because death will come when it will come. The death of my wife gave me new courage to face the world. Therefore, death has no venom and no power over me.”
She might be gone, but her smile is conspicuous in her works. Beneficiaries are benefiting. Her foundation is still soldiering on. A sign post of being visionary. Her smile in the midst of suffering, is a smile of the once under-privileged now smiling.