* On two remembrances occasions for late Saulos Chilima at the plane crash site in Mzimba District and the other taking place at Nsipe in Ntcheu
* The one in the Mzimba District is a government event, while the one in Ntcheu is family led and blessed function
By Duncan Mlanjira
Observing that there were two memorial services in remembrance of one year after the passing of Vice-President, late Saulos Klaus Chilima, who died along with eight others in a plane crash on June 10, 2024, Chifipa Mhango describes the event held at the crash site in Mzimba resembles a ‘kusambula mizimu (provocation of the dead spirits’).
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The Don Consultancy Group (DCG) chief economist — sharing his views as a concerned citizen in his personal capacity, and with a strong background on Malawi’s political landscape — says: “Indeed, the 10th of June 2024 will go down in the history of Malawi as one of the sad moments, for we lost the sitting Vice-President of Malawi Dr Saulos Chilima and other distinguished eight people.
“However, this is not the focus of my communication. Today, I want to reflect on the two remembrances occasions taking place — one on the place at the plane crash site in Mzimba District and the other taking place at Nsipe in Ntcheu District.
“These two occasions may have the same purpose — however, they are different in nature. The one in the Mzimba District is a government event, while the one in Ntcheu is family-led and a blessed function.
“As someone who has been well brought up in family traditions, when you want to visit the grave of the loved that have passed, you do not just go into the graveyard alone — you seek the elders in the village (i.e family members) to escort you. It is that which opens the door for the spirits to also welcome you.
Chifipa Mhango
“Remembrance of those that have passed is a strong tradition, especially among those with a Ngoni or Zulu background. It takes effort and co-ordination in organisation of such events, with elements of traditional respect adhered to.
“The clear view of the event in Mzimba District, to which President Dr Lazarus Chakwera was present, had no family traditional blessings. The event in Mzimba resembles a ‘kusambula mizimu’ (provocation of the dead spirits).
“Three things emanate from such action, it’s either one has no respect for family traditional values, no sense of judgement and wrong advisors in your office on traditional affairs.
“On the function in Ntcheu, the occasion in my view, represented a family blessed one. It is no doubt to every Malawian that in this remembrance, the key person is late Vice-President Dr Saulos Chilima, and to have his widow Mary Chilima, and their two children is enough for one to draw conclusions that Nsipe function was family blessed. That is where the spirit of my dear brother and friend, late Dr Saulos Chilima was present.
“In 1983, a day after the 18th of May, in the suburb of Nyambadwe, where we were neighbours with the family of Saulos Chilima, we were exhausted from playing ‘kick-the-tin’. We then sat by the septic tank at our family house then.
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“Then the subject of the death of the three Cabinet Ministers and MP (Gadama and his colleagues) came up. Saulos was 10 years young and we (my twin brother and I were 11 years young).
“We were debating whether the four were killed or not. Then one of our childhood colleagues (name withdrawn deliberately) told us, ‘inu siyani zimenezo, Kamuzu amamva’. We all went silent — that was the end of our play day.
“Why am I bringing this part? Kamuzu was still alive then in 1983, but we seem to fear him like a dead spirit that was able to see and listen to any conversation out there. At our young age, we already knew the power of a spirit.
“Today, I want to ask the similar question: Are you sure that the spirit of Saulos Chilima siukumva ndi kuona? (is the spirit of Saulos Chilima not listening and watching?).
“If there is a term political suicide, then the event that was held without a family blessing has committed such. You just do not have a function to remember the dead without their families. Mwasambula mizimu. You just cannot make such silly decisions in a political season (less than 98 days to an election).
“Today, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera attended an ‘event’ while former President Joyce Banda led the nation of Malawi at a ‘function’ to remember Dr. Saulos Chilima and the eight others.
“This is just the truth based on facts,” concludes Chifipa, who is also Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) director of economic affairs.
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