By Rosalia Kapiri

President Lazarus Chakwera has left the country for the Republic of Namibia where he is expected to attend the state funeral for the late President of Namibia, Hage Heingob scheduled to take place on Sunday. 24 February, 2024.

The Malawi leader departed for Namibia, Saturday morning through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe and was seen off by the country's vice president, Saulos Klaus Chilima, Ministers, government officials and traditional leaders.

Speaking to reporters before departure, Chakwera expressed sorrow over the death of a fellow African president describing it a huge loss for the SADC region.

“As Africans we have lost an African giant. We are one and when one of us departs from this earth it is a loss to all of us and we are there for each other in these times,” he said.

Late President Geingob who succumbed to cancer on 4 February, 2024 was first sworn-in as president in 2015, but had served in top political positions since Namibia`s independence in 1990.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Chakwera will return to Malawi on Sunday, February 24, 2024 through KIA.