The plan was for people to conduct prayers at Nthungwa Primary School ground in Nkhata Bay in remembrance of departed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others who perished in a plane crash in the Viphya Plantation.
Both the old and young, at as early as 9 O’clock in the morning started gathering, anticipating that they will have prayers, songs, speeches and then a candlelight memorial.
But it never went as planned. The clergy, who were supposed to officiate the prayers never turned up, with Mzondi Mkandawire, a UTM youth leader who was also one of the lead organisers, claiming sabotage.
“Everything was set, but only to be told that they have been stopped! We had to start asking around and thanks to the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia which gave us a cleric to officiate the prayers.
“We are here to cry for the departed, and it is not even against the government. I know of 15 people who have died because of stress as a result of the plane crash deaths and these prayers are supposed to deal with such issues,” he said.
Mkandawire said some people wanted a revolution and these memorials are aimed at quelling such incidents, urging those in power to listen to the cries of people.
“Let me warn politicians that we are not daft! Chilima suffered for this government to be in place, He was almost killed in Thyolo and Machinga, all for this government to come in.
“So when people want to gather and remember him, let us respect that. We will all die one day, and when we mourn, let’s respect each other,” he added.
Later, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) vice-president Timothy Mtambo and guest speaker Professor Peter Mwanza arrived, telling the crowd of about 500 people not to be afraid.
Mtambo said there is nothing for people to celebrate but only to gather and cry as the country has engaged a serious reverse drive.
“What should we be happy about? Roads are in bad shape, costs of goods are rising, and people are becoming poorer than before. For me 60 years is a sad tale, and we need to change things.
“Most of us joined politics because of Chilima, a man who was so determined to develop this country. Let me tell the government to stop arresting people as they mourn Chilima and others. We will not be taken for fools! We will not be shaken! Like SKC used to say, Osaopa, Osafooka, Osatopa. That has been planted into us and we will use that to ensure that in 2025, we usher in a government that is concerned about people’s plight!” he said.
Mwanza, described the late Chilima as a person who knew how to transform Malawi using the public sector.
Later in the evening, there was a candlelight memorial service at the site
