Ethel Mutharika

b. Circa 1944, Zimbabwe
d. Aged 63, 28 May 2007, Lilongwe, Malawi

On the 28th May, Malawians grieved the passing of their First Lady, Mrs Ethel Mutharika who lost her long struggle with breast cancer. The government announced a month-long period of mourning for the First Lady, affectionately known as the "Mother of Malawi".

The first Lady created the Ethel Mutharika Foundation (EMF), to help Malawian children and elders. She had been married to President Bingu wa Mutharika for 37 years, together they had 4 children and several grandchildren.