Tears flow for ‘Mwanza 4’

The atmosphere at St. Michaels Catholic Parish in Chikwawa District yesterday was emotional as the family of late politician David Chiwanga held a memorial service.

It was in honour of Chiwanga and his colleagues Dick Matenje, Aaron Gadama and Twaibu Sangala, known as the Mwanza Four, who were murdered during the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) regime under president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

On May 18 1983, their vehicle was found in a ditch at Thambani, Mwanza, with the official narrative that it was an accident as they fled to Mozambique.

But investigations later revealed that they were murdered by government operatives as they were perceived to be Banda’s critics.

Family and friends gathered to pay their respects to Chiwanga, his three fallen colleagues were also incorporated into the service led by Father Steven Boloma.

Tears flowed endlessly and the sombre atmosphere was profound.

The service began with a requiem mass at the cathedral followed by laying of wreaths at the grave where the Chikwawa parliamentarian was laid to rest after a reburial.

Chiwanga’s widow, Bernadette and second born son, Augustine, shared stories of his selflessness and courage.

Bernadette, 75, struggled to contain her grief as she eulogised her husband.

“David was a loving father and a courageous voice of the voiceless. His murder may have silenced him, but his legacy lives on 41 years on,” she said.

She recalled how she struggled to raise her eight children alone.

Sadly, she lost the first born in 1998 which further traumatised her.

“Police officers failed to give me a proper response when I asked about the cause of his death. He oozed bllod from his nose, mouth and had no shoes or socks,” she said.

Chiwanga died at 40 and, Bernadette was 35 .

Augustine said life was tough when his father was murdered.

“I was at Blantyre Secondary School. It was difficult to understand what was going on,” he said.

He said they got educated through wellwishers, bursaries and built better lives for themselves to help their mother.

After the change of regime, , Banda was arrested in 1995 alongside his official hostess Cecilia Kadzamira, former MCP president John Tembo, MacDonald Kalemba, Augustino Leston Likaomba and MacWilliam Lunguzi.

They were charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to defeat justice by destroying evidence.

However, High Court Judge Mackson Mkandawire, assisted by a jury of seven, withdrew the charges against the accused due to lack of evidence and they were acquitted on both charges.