* The unveiling ceremony was attended by thousands of people, including Vice-President Jane Ansah; former President Joyce Banda; former Vice-President Michael Usi; Minister of Education, Bright Msaka
* Along with a glorious entourage of Paramount Chiefs — Gomani V; M’mbelwa V; Chikulamayembe; Lundu and Kawinga
Maravi Express
Two years after that fateful plane crash that claimed the life of State Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima along with eight others on June 10, 2024, at Nthungwa Forest in the Viphya Plantations, his family has honoured his memory with a majestic and breathtaking mausoleum at Nsipe in Ntcheu District.
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The unveiling ceremony on Saturday was attended by thousands of people from Chilima’s Ntcheu kinfolk and visiting high profile dignitaries, among them Vice-President Jane Ansah; former President Joyce Banda; former Vice-President Michael Usi and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka — who represented President Arthur Peter Mutharika.
It was also attended by a glorious entourage of Paramount Chiefs — Gomani V; M’mbelwa V; Chikulamayembe; Lundu and Kawinga along with local and visiting Ngoni traditional leaders.
Late Chilima was a devout Catholic Church faithful and the event was marked by a Catholic Church mass led by Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima of Zomba Arch Diocese.
Representing the traditional leaders, Paramount Chief Gomani V described the late Chilima as a great son of the Maseko Ngoni and Malawi, saying his legacy will remain in people’s hearts.
While Minister Msaka said the late Chilima was one of Malawi’s most distinguished sons who served the nation diligently during his two terms as Vice-President.
“Malawi mourned Chilima not only as a leader but as a father, colleague and a devoted Christian,” said Msaka, adding that the mausoleum will serve as a place for future generations to reflect on and learn about the late Chilima’s life and service.
Msaka urged Malawians not only to remember how Chilima died, but also how he lived and the vision he had for the country.
Dalitso Kabambe, president of the UTM Party which Chilima founded, said the former Vice-President in Mutharika’s 1014-2020 administration and to immediate past government of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under Lazarus Chakwera — restored hope among Malawians and inspired a generation of leaders with belief in national transformation.
On her part, late Chilima wife, Mary, welcomed the establishment of a fresh Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that claimed the nine lives, saying the bereaved family believes it will help provide answers to questions that remain in the minds of Malawians.
“I would like to thank the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for instituting a new Commission of Inquiry,” she said. “Our desire is not vengeance but to know the truth.
“The truth will honour the living, and the truth will dignify the dead,” she said and further appealed to government to consider setting aside a national day in honour of the late Chilima.
The late SKC was born on February 12, 1973, and hailed from Mbirimtengerenji Village, Traditional Authority Champiti in Ntcheu District.—Reporting by Maston Kaiya, Malawi News Agency (MANA); editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express; pictures by Kondwani Magombo (MANA)
Late Saulos Klaus Chilima