United in grief

Tears flowed and sirens blared as remains of former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri and five others killed in a plane crash in Mzimba on Monday alongside Vice-President Saulos Chilima were repatriated to their respective homes.

Bodies of three of the victims, the Veep’s guard commander Lucas Kapheni, clinician Daniel Kanyemba and aide de camp Chisomo Chimaneni were laid to rest upon arrival in their respective home districts from the capital city, Lilongwe.

Kapheni was buried in his home, Santhe area in Kasungu District while Kanyemba was interred in Mitundu, Lilongwe Rural and Chimaneni in Ntchisi.

On the other hand, Shanil’s remains were transported to Senzani in Balaka while co-pilot Major Flora Selemani’s body was taken to Thyolo, that of pilot Colonel Owen Sambalopa to Zomba and aeroplane technician Major Wells Aidini’s body to Mangochi. The four will be laid to rest today.

A sombre President Lazarus Chakwera accompanied by senior public officials such as Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara and Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba attended the send-off of Shanil’s body at Sunset Funeral Parlour in Kanengo.

Also present were Shanil’s children who are based in the United Kingdom and their father, former president Bakili Muluzi, as well as former United Democratic Front president Atupele Muluzi.

Shanil worked as Chilima’s personal assistant on Women Affairs since 2020. She was also director of women in UTM Party founded by Chilima in July 2018.

Speaking on behalf of Chakwera, who was accompanied by First Lady Monica, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda said the President is concerned with the death of Dzimbili who contributed a lot to the development of the country.

“She had a lot of initiatives to support development like sending children to school. The President is concerned to have lost such a mother. The President is still praying for her family and all those affected,” said the minister.

Shanil will be buried today with full military honours.

Former president Joyce Banda was also in attendance.

Ben Mankhamba, who spoke on behalf of the Dzimbiri family, said they are in shock, further asking people to keep praying for them