Wamemlilia, wamemzika Rais Mutharika

Malawi's president, who died of a heart attack earlier this month, has been buried after a funeral service that drew African leaders and thousands of Malawian mourners.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and Armando Guebuza of Mozambique were among the heads of state at Monday's Catholic service in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital.

President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died at 78, was buried later at his nearby Ndata Farm in a white mausoleum he had built for his first wife, Ethel, who died in 2007.Mutharika called the mausoleum "Maphumulo wa Bata," or "Peaceful Rest."

But other Malawians, critical of the money he spent on his farm retreat soon after first being elected in 2004, dubbed the mausoleum the Taj Mahal

Proceedings began with President Mugabe, Amai Grace Mugabe and fellow African leaders President Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia), President Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), President Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), representatives of other leaders from the Sadc region and heads of regional and multilateral organisations viewing the body of Dr wa Mutharika which lay in state at the farm house.

New Malawian President Joyce Banda welcomed other leaders. The leaders also signed a book of condolences at the house.

Body viewing was punctuated by singing by choirs from the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations. Dr wa Mutharika was Catholic.

The body was then carried to the front of the mausoleum where thousands of mourners gathered.

Speakers gave their eulogies followed by a funeral mass conducted by a Catholic priest.

President Banda said Dr wa Mutharika left the nation a legacy of self belief, independence and hard work".

"I will do all my best to follow what he wanted us to do to move this country from poverty to prosperity," said President Banda.

Dr wa Mutharika's brother Professor Peter Mutharika described him as a loving "brother, father and grandfather" who shall be dearly missed.

"I know sometimes he made mistakes as we all do. But if he made mistakes it was out of misjudgment and not evil," said Prof Mutharika, who is Foreign Minister in the Malawi government.

He vowed to continue his brother's legacy and pledged to ensure the Democratic Progressive Party survives.

President Banda formed her own People's Party after being fired from DPP.

President Guebuza, who spoke on behalf of Sadc leaders, described Dr wa Mutharika as a career economist who had contributed to the development of the region, Africa and the world.

"The tragedy that befell this great country, Sadc and the continent defies description," he said..