Lilongwe — NEW Malawian President Joyce Banda yesterday led thousands of Malawians to view the body of President Bingu wa Mutharika currently lying in state at Parliament Building in the capital Lilongwe. While President Banda was inside the building, four long

queues had formed outside as people wearing sombre faces awaited their turn to enter the building to pay their last respects to President wa Mutharika. As early as 6am, grieving Malawians from various parts of the country had started arriving at parliament's main gate. And, more were still making their way to the building.

Chairman of the Funeral Committee Henry Mussa, said government had allowed people of the central region to pay their last respect to Malawi's third president in two days -- yesterday and today. These two days will enable all sectors of people to view and pay their last respect to late President Mutharika.

Later today the body will be flown to northern region where it will lie in state at Mzuzu State Lodge for a day.

President wa Mutharika died on April 5 after suffering a heart attack. His remains were flown from South Africa where he had been taken, last Saturday and he will be buried next week, April 23 at his Ndata Farm in Thyolo, a district about 50km from the commercial capital Blantyre.