SKC death revives heroes acre calls

In the wake of Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s death, civil society leaders and governance analysts have lamented government’s delays to put in place a national heroes’ acre to honour and preserve their legacy.

Nyika Institute director Moses Mkandawire, Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, Youth And Society (YAS) executive director Charles Kajoloweka said in separate interviews that by now the country should have had a heroes’ acre where Chilima would have been buried.

Mkandawire said the government has not made serious efforts to have the heroes’ acre despite calls for such having started almost two decades ago.

He said Chilima is a national hero and should have been honoured by being buried at a national heroes’ acre.

Said Mkandawire: “A heroes’ acre and supporting legal framework would help us plan in honouring heroes and preserving their legacy. We need to borrow a leaf from other countries.

“ SKC, Chakufwa Chihana , Masauko Chipembere, Kanyama Chiume and others are national heroes and deserve a place at a national heroes’ acre.”

Besides honouring heroes, preserving and promoting the country ’s history, Mkandawire said the site would be a tourist attraction and a symbol of unity as heroes from various parts of the country would be buried there, thereby promoting unity in the country.

On his part, Trapence said a heroes’ acre was long overdue.

He said: “The Vice- President Dr Saulos Chilima contributed a lot to our democracy and we need the country to preserve such a legacy and of others as well.”

Kondowe said by not have a heroes’ acre, the country’s history is being affected.

On his part, Kajoloweka said it does make sense for the country not to have a heroes acre, calling for a commitment in honouring the heroes but also preserving their legacy

“We need to demonstrate that we are a country that honours heroes and preserve legacy. Fallen heroes like the Vice-President Saulos Chilima definitely deserve a place in a State heroes acre. We need the heroes’ care as a matter of urgency,” he said.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e governance experts saluted Chilima for revolutionising the country’s politics and promoting democracy, saying he championed issue-based politics and promoted the welfare of Malawians, especially the poor and marginalised.

In an interview, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said government discussed with Chilima’s family on where he should be buried and the family indicated that he should be buried at Nsipe in Ntcheu. He said government had two sites in mind, one close to founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s mausoleum in Lilongwe and the other at Magwero also in Lilongwe where there is a designated place for heroes acre.