Thousands queue to honour Chilima at Parliament

For once the cacophony that characterises debate in the House was not registered anywhere. It was no longer time for politicking.

The chamber yesterday assumed the role of a funeral house as the body of Vice-President Saulos Chilima lay in state with President Lazarus Chakwera leading Malawians in paying last respects.

Cries of mourners echoed through the walls of Parliament Building as choirs took turns to sing in honour of Chilima.

Tears flowed endlessly as dignitaries and the public also paid respects on a day punctuated by masses that the clergy from the Catholic Church led.

It was a heart-breaking sight when Chilima’s wife, Mary took time to pay her respect to the man she cherished and loved as demonstrated by a flying kiss she offered.

The love Malawians had for the departed Vice-President was signified by a snaking queue of thousands of Malawians who waited for their turn to pay their homage.

They even lined up along the road from early morning following the cortege as it moved from the Vice-President’s official residence in Lilongwe’s Area 12 to the Parliament Building in City Centre.

Their presence signified their love for the late Vice-President who left the corporate sector in 2013 to join mainstream politics.

Government has since declared tomorrow a public holiday to allow  people to attend Chilima’s burial at Nsipe in Ntcheu District.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, who is the official government spokesperson, announced the holiday at a press briefing yesterday at Parliament Building.

He said: “The President has declared that Monday [tomorrow] should be observed as a holiday to give everyone a chance to pay their last respects to late Chilima.”

Kunkuyu also announced that various foreign dignitaries have confirmed their attendance.

Zambia’s Minister of Defence Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma, Mozambique Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane, Tanzania’s Vice-President Philip Mpango and Botswana Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane have confirmed their attendance.

Others include Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.

Kunkuyu said government is making transport arrangements for family members and political party supporters.

Chilima’s remains will today be taken to the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe where people will also pay their last respects before repatriation to Ntcheu later in the day.

Meanwhile, the National Action Plan, a grouping of various civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday described the late Chilima as a leader whose commitment to serving the nation will remain unmatched.

The CSOs yesterday met Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe where they conveyed their condolences.

Oxfam in Malawi country director Lingalireni Mihowa said the civil society remains in solidarity with the President during the mourning period.

Chilima, who died in a military plane crash on Monday alongside eight others, is survived by a wife Mary, son Sean and daughter Elizabeth.