Malawi ex-first lady Annie Muluzi coming from US to attend burial of daughter Esmie set for Friday

Malawi former first lady Anne Muluzi who left the country since  she separated with  former president Bakili Muluzi  in 1999 is returning back home to attend the burial of their  first born daughter, Esmie Muluzi Malisita, who was on Monday struck dead by lightning, together with her close friend Hazel Busile in Blantyre.

. The two were reportedly helping out in fertiliser application at a garden in Mpemba.

A relation to Muluzi family, Ishamel Chioko said Esmie Muluzi-Malisita who was Director for Joy FM Radio, one of Malawi’s private radios will be buried on Friday as they are waiting for former first lady to pay her last respects.

Annie Muluzi, who was the first woman to be called First Lady in Malawi after Bakili Muluzi – a prominent businessman before he won the first democratic elections in 1994 – had her charity Freedom Foundation Trust before she left.

She is now a resident in United States of America.

“The funeral will wait for the mother to fly in from America,” said Chioko.

Burial will be held atMuluzi’s home village of Kapoloma,  Machinga district 160 km north of Blantyre.

Muluzi- Malisita, who was married to Dr Ken Malisita a medical doctor, was also sister to Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi.

Her death has been described as “tragic and a big loss to the media fraternity in Malawi.”

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi chapter chairperson Thom Khanje said his group has learnt with shock with “both the death and its heartbreaking cause which have robbed the Malawi media of one of its dedicated and committed members in such a horrific manner.”

Khanje said Misa- Malawi will remember Malisita for her untiring support to the chapter and the general media sector un Malawi through, among other things, her active role in matters involving the chapter and media owners, including the campaign for Access to Information legislation and many other matters that required the support of media owners and managers.

Misa- Malawi conveyed “sincere condolences” to Joy Media Group as well as the Muluzi and Malisita families on the loss of Esmie.

Born on August 31 1969 Muluzi-Malisita is survived by a husband and three children.

Busile family said they are working out a programme for the the funeral arrangements for their beautiful daughter.

Over 15 people died of lightning during the 2014/2015 rainy season in Malawi and in the worst scenario, 3 sisters aged between 9 and 18 were killed in Malawi’s central region district of Kasungu.

In 2013, eight people were killed in Malawi capital, Lilongwe, after lightning struck a church building where they had gathered for prayers.

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