By Durell Namasani
Death has been announced of a former Malawi beauty queen Blandina Khondowe. The 40 year old died on Saturday morning . The Former Miss Malawi was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2013 , although the cancer went into remission. Recently she had been struggling again after the cancer returned in 2017 which has resulted in her death.
Blandina Khondowe, who bravely fought cancer for so many years, is being remembered by Malawians as a fearless fighter for justice and better treatment and care for cancer patients. Blandina, who had won the Miss Malawi crown in 2002, was pronounced dead at Spring Valley Private Hospital in Area 10 in Lilongwe.
Blandina was also a passionate political activist. After getting involved with MCP while it was still in opposition , she found herself to be among the early activists of the newly formed UTM. A tribute message has been posted on UTM pages which signed by Vice president Saulos Chilima and his wife Mary which reads ” A beautiful soul gone too soon, what a devastation to lose a great comrade, a consummate patriot, a fearless and courageous fighter”
A civil servant, the former beauty queen, was rushed to the hospital after she reportedly collapsed at home. Following her diagnosis and later survival, she became a passionate breast cancer advocate through the two initiatives she founded – Think Pink Malawi (in 2013) and later, Hope for Cancer Foundation (in 2015).
Details of the Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced .
