SKC, the cultural champion

If there are individuals in this country considered to have hit the crescendo of excellence, the fallen  Vice-President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, aka SKC, will remain one of them.

From academic excellence where he scaled the heights many can only dream of to his professional career tale, the man had no blemish. He was also a stout family man, a dedicated Christian and to cap it all, a political stalwart.

Apart from these attributes, there are  plenty other things we can associate SKC with; his unparalleled charisma, sense of humour and his impeccable sense of dressing epitomised his affable personality.

On the social front, the Vice-President had his footprints dotted almost everywhere. One day he was on the basketball court doing the three-pointers with both his peers and juniors in ranking, the next day you would see him lead the line in the Be More Race competition and on any other day you find him comfortably strutting the greens on the golf course or cycling.

That aspect of the man brought him closer to many people drawn from different classes and they considered him as one of their own. His understanding of the street dynamics was just on point. As such, he retained that youthful aura that defied his status as the country’s Vice-President, an office he assumed at the age of 41.

But that is not all. The man from Nsipe in Ntcheu District had rare reverence to his roots. As a Ngoni, Chilima took great pride in showing all and sundry of his cultural leanings. As an Impi, serving the Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V, he almost became the poster face of the Maseko Ngoni.

Impi Bhiyeni Chilima was an ever present figure during all Maseko Ngoni cultural activities and events. Side by side with the Ngwenyama of Maseko Ngoni, Chilima led the way in all cultural undertakings such as the Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni Cultural Festival.

In these moments, Impi Bhiyeni Chilima threw away his presidency robe and presented himself just as one of the Ngonis. His dressing and conduct spoke of a man so devouted to his roots and proud of his culture.

That is why news of his death in a plane crash accident on Monday in Nthungwa Forest in Viphya Highlands, Mzimba, has left a big gush in the fresh of the Maseko Ngoni establishment.

Impi Bhiyeni Chilima was not an ordinary member and part of the cultural establishment. He was a person people looked up to up for wisdom, guidance and influence. He was an ambience of what a cultural champion should be.

He was an inspiration to the younger generation. Chilima reminded everyone the importance of sticking to one’s roots no matter the personal success one can achieve in life. His story and cultural reverence has left behind a cultural inspiration that will be marveled for long.

As his body will be rested in his home district on Monday, us from the arts and culture fraternity, will be looking at the cultural flag that he raised so high throughout his life. And we look back with a sense of satisfaction to the indelible mark he has left.

Rest in eternal bliss Impi Bhiyeni!