Former Malawian president''s body repatriated to Lilongwe for funeral
(14 Apr 2012) 1. Mid of coffin of late Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika in hearse
2. Close of coffin being transferred from hearse by South African military
3. Wide of plane and coffin on tarmac
4. Mid of coffin and South African soldiers preparing to transfer it on plane
5. Wide of South African guard of honour
6. Wide of South African National Defence Force members approaching coffin
7. Close of family member crying
8. Mid of South African National Defence Force transferring the coffin into aircraft
9. Mid of Lindiwe Sisulu, South African Defence Minister at the ceremony
10. Wide of coffin entering plane
11. Mid of South Africa military plane in flight
STORYLINE
The body of the late President of Malawi Bingu wa Mutharika was flown home from South Africa on Saturday.
South Africa''s Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Mutharika family members attended the ceremony as the coffin was placed on the aircraft in Pretoria.
Mutharika died on 5 April, but his body was then flown to South Africa apparently to buy time for politicians to work out a succession plan.
The government of Malawi finally confirmed the president''s death two days later and a day after it was announced by doctors.
Joyce Banda, who had held onto her post of vice president despite falling out with Mutharika, was sworn in last Saturday in a brief ceremony in Lilongwe, the capital.
Under the constitution, Banda will serve out Mutharika''s term, which ends in early 2014.
Mutharika first won office in 2004, and was re-elected in 2009.
A former World Bank official once heralded for his economic stewardship, he had in recent years been accused of mismanagement and of trampling on human rights.
Anti-government demonstrations across Malawi last year were met with an unprecedented security crackdown that resulted in at least 19 deaths.
Mutharika will be buried on 23 April at a sprawling farm outside the nation''s commercial hub Blanture.
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