Mutharika's death bridges divisions

Born Brightson Webster Ryson on 24 February in 1934, Mutharika - who was also the leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - died last week after succumbing to a heart attack.

The former World Bank economist came to Botswana on a state visit that was fraught with political controversy in April last year as opposition parties distanced themselves from him, saying he was a repressive leader who stifled Malawian civil society and political opposition. On the eve of the Mutharika visit, the opposition coalition in Parliament held a press conference at which it criticised the government for inviting the Malawian president whom it characterised as a dictator.