sympathy go to the families
By Mercy Matonga & Richard Chirombo:
Former heads of State have joined President Lazarus Chakwera, members of bereaved families and Malawians in general in mourning the death of State Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others.
They died in a plane crash on Monday.
Former President Bakili Muluzi told The Daily Times that he had hoped that the plane carrying former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri could be found, with everyone escaping the tragedy.
“I am currently heartbroken over the demise and loss of all people who were on board the MDF [Malawi Defence Force] aircraft that crashed on Monday and I am on my way to Lilongwe,” Muluzi said Tuesday.
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In a statement, former president Arthur Peter Mutharika, who leads the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, and wife Gertrude expressed sadness following the death of Chilima and others.
“Their excellencies’ deep thoughts of sympathy go to Madam Mary Chilima and children, the families and loved ones of the eight others, His Excellency, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the President of the nation, members of the UTM party and all Malawians of goodwill,” the statement reads.
Former president Joyce Banda told The Daily Times that she was at a loss for words.
“Saulos Klaus Chilima was a precious gift from God to our nation. [He was] a champion of private sector development.
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“He was my son, actually. His mother Elizabeth Valera Chilima was a good friend of mine. We are all mourning. What we need right now is to mourn together like a nation. Let us continue like that.
“The people who have died are human beings. They have got families. I thank God for who he [Chilima] was. Even Shanil Dzimbiri was a gift to Malawi. The others, too. These are people who came to do a great job on the earth. It is sad that they have died a painful death,” Banda said.
On his part, former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament-cum-People’s Development Party leader Kondwani Nankhumwa told The Daily Times that he was still in shock:
“I do not have the energy to speak because I am at a loss for words. I was very close to Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima. It will take me time to process what has happened. I am failing to come to terms with whatever has happened,” Nankhumwa said.
Meanwhile, the government of Zambia and other governments have condoled with the Malawian people.
Locally, Media Institute of Southern Africa-Malawi, Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Peoples Federation for National Peace and Development, Media Council of Malawi, among others, have extended condolence messages to Chakwera, members of bereaved families and Malawians at large over the loss of loved ones.
