Politicking mars Goodall funeral

Politicking yesterday marred what was otherwise a befitting colourful farewell for former minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe as some politicians, mostly from opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), took advantage to score political points.

Ironically, while the party loyalists used the sombre occasion in Kayiwonanga Village at Enukweni in Mzimba District to heap praises on DPP president Peter Mutharika, the former head of State avoided talking politics and mostly dwelled his eulogy on how he knew Gondwe.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima, former vice-president Khumbo Kachali and Inkosi Mabulabo, in their eulogies, expressed disappointment with the utterances by some of the politicians during the funeral service.

Controversy started before the event started as the officiating clergy from the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia could not wait for Mutharika to pay his last respects to Gondwe as he lay in state.

Mutharika arrived after Chilima had already arrived and Livingstonia Synod general secretary the Reverend William Tembo said they could not wait any longer.

He said: “We have been told several times that he [Mutharika] was close by, but he is not showing up. So, close the casket and take it out so that we commence the programme.

“We agreed that the programme would start at 9:30am, but this is 11am.”

Immediately the casket was taken out, Mutharika arrived amid chants from his supporters who said the former president will contest again in 2025.

Despite Tembo telling party loyalists to stop politicising the event, the DPP supporters would hear none of it as they kept singing songs praising Mutharika.

Mzimba North legislator Yeremia Chihana (Alliance for Democracy) worsened the situation as he kept praising Mutharika, attracting ululations.

He said: “The late Gondwe was an economic genius. He helped the country to get its debt cancelled.

“Gondwe has been accorded a State funeral because of Mutharika. I went to ask Gondwe recently about the economic problems that we have and he explained to me everything.”

Chihana also took a swipe at Chilima over his carrying of bags of fertiliser during the campaign trail with a promise to lower the price.

He said: “We will not get this country out of the current mess if we tell each other lies. We have people who can help this country and Professor Mutharika, when you get back into government, please engage them.”

Taking his turn, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa said Gondwe’s death should unite the DPP. However, his appeal attracted boos from DPP supporters who were among the mourners.

He could visibly be seen shaking as he delivered his speech, facing an intimidating crowd.

Said Nankhumwa: “Gondwe promoted unity. He didn’t look at where someone was coming from. As he is being buried, let us also bury our political differences. I would have really loved that all the bickering in the party [DPP] should end today.

“How I wish our leaders today should shake hands for the sake of Gondwe.”

On his part, Kachali was not amused with the goings on and said time for campaign will come.

Mutharika, on the other hand, avoided talking politics as he focused on how he worked with Gondwe to revive the country’s economy during his time, but also his schools days with Gondwe.

He said: “My brother Bingu [wa Mutharika] told me that if I become President, I should never leave out Gondwe. I will forever appreciate the loyalty and friendship with Goodall.

“When Bingu died, Goodall and I were senior ministers and it was a very sudden death. The National Governing Council was convened to elect a new president of the DPP and everyone thought it would be Goodall, but he [Goodall] nominated me and that is how selfless he was.”

Mutharika also talked about how close he worked with Gondwe to resuscitate the economy after Cashgate exposed in 2013 under former president Joyce Banda.

He said: “After Cashgate, the country was in a mess. Donors had left and I was the first president to run a government without 40 percent donor support.

“We worked very hard, even at night, sometimes over wine and coffee sometimes until we got the economy better. At times, I thought the country would collapse, but Goodall said we would make it and we did.”

In what was an apparent direct response to Chihana’s remarks on the fertiliser situation, Chilima started his eulogy by warning fellow politicians to “behave”.

Said the VP: “The man we are burying today was a respectable and dignified citizen. Therefore, the conduct and behaviour at this place must reflect the dignity and respect that Gondwe deserves.

“We should leave the rest for the right moment. We know how to speak and to do some of these things. Today is a day to honour Gondwe.”

Chilima described Gondwe as one of the finest people the country has ever produced. He said Gondwe was a spirited public servant and a fine politician.

“He was a leader whose examples were worth emulating,” he said.

Inkosi Mabulabo, who represented Inkosi ya Makhosi M’Mbelwa V, chided those who used the event for political mileage, telling them to respect funeral protocol.

The funeral ceremony saw hundreds of people from all walks of life seeing off Gondwe as he walked his last mile. He died on August 8, aged 87.