Malawi:Rudo Mawere murdered in Dublin laid to rest

Some 400 people packed the Mawere family home in the commercial capital, Blantyre, and also lined up the procession route to mark the life of the murdered student.

A special event of prayers, preaching and hymns was conducted by the Pentecostal Living Waters Church at her parents’ house in Kanjedza, a small suburb in Blantyre, where Ms Mawere was born and grew up.

She moved to Ireland to study human resources development in Dublin. She lived in a flat with friends on Leinster Road in Rathmines.

A family representative in his eulogy said they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy from many Malawians since the news of their daughter’s death was received some two weeks ago.

In his sermon, Pastor Bandawe of the Living Waters Church, who conducted the 45-minute open-air church service, said, as a church, they were deeply saddened with the brutal demise of one of their dedicated members.

“Our sister Rudo chose to be close to her God, she surrendered her life to God, that is why, as a church, we are here today to bear witness.”

Ms Mawere (26) joined the Solid Rock Church of God when she arrived in Dublin.

“It is important that today, as we escort our beloved sister, we must remember things about her that are happy and good for us who are remaining behind,” Pastor Bandawe said.

In its tribute, the African Students Association of Ireland said it was disturbed to lose a dedicated member of the association in a most heartbreaking and brutal manner.

Ms Mawere’s body was discovered on January 29th in a luggage bag at St David’s Terrace, Blackhorse Avenue, on the north side of Dublin. She was fully clothed and had a plastic bag over her head.

A postmortem showed she died from asphyxiation. The chief suspect in the murder was found dead in England having apparently taken his own life.