James Kalaile laid to rest
By Arkangel Tembo:
Judicial officers and staff, led by Chief Justice (CJ) Andrew Nyirenda and retired CJ Richard Banda, on Saturday joined family, friends and other mourners to escort Justice James Kalaile to his final resting place at HHI Cemetery in Blantyre.
Kalaile, who retired from the Judiciary in 2008, was eulogised as being humble and full of integrity.
Speaking on behalf of Nyirenda, Justice Anaclet Chipeta described the late Kalaile as a father figure and tireless teacher.
“Today is a very sad day in the Judiciary as we are burying a father figure; a teacher who was very trusted and committed to his work.
“He served in different portfolios and the chief justice is a sad man to lose a person who was very important in society,” Chipeta said.
While in the Judiciary Kalaile served in a number of portfolios, including that of Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, Commonwealth judge between 2008 and 2010 and at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa court between February 1997 and July 2003.
After retiring from the Judiciary, Kalaile picked up a job in the academia at the Catholic University of Malawi, where he was Director of Legal Affairs from March 2013.
After eulogies from Senior Chief Lukwa of Kasungu and others, the funeral procession was led by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers from his Nyambadwe residence to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral along the Chilomoni Township Road, where hundreds of people braved sweltering heat to pay their last respects.
After the church service, which was led by Bishop Brighton Vita Malasa of the Anglican Diocese of Upper Shire, scores of people lined the streets of Blantyre, watching a convoy led by a green MDF Land Rover which carried the brown casket with the remains of Kalaile.— Mana
