Creatives continue to join the rest of the nation in mourning Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, who died in a tragic plane crash in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba District on Monday.
Veteran poet Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga has released a poem titled ‘Grief Without Limit’ which he said is a tribute to Chilima and eight others and that it is there to console the families of fellow compatriots, who never foresaw that their relatives on national service would end tragically only to leave them behind with memories they created together with them when they lived.
And Thursday Poetry Association of Malawi (Pam) President Robert Chiwamba also dropped a tribute poem titled ‘Pumani Bwana Chilima’.
In the poem, Chiwamba talks of the respectable human being Chilima was to the nation and that he inspired a lot of young people to work hard and be the best they can be as well as serve Malawi better.
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Chiwamba heaps praise of Chilima in the poem saying he did a lot for the nation including initiating reforms in government.
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He says in one of the stanzas of the Chichewa poem that people can access on different platforms including YouTube:
Pumani bwana Chilima, ndikudziwa moyo wanu pansi pano unali wacholinga, ndipo ndinu nokha amene munamvetsetsa bwino za chanu cholingachi, simunalolele kusokonezedwa ndi mphepo zongodutsa, simunalavule chingamu kamba ka mtedza wolawa, ndiye pitani mukapume bwana…
Chiwamba said the Vice President was a great man and that his work ethic, core values and achievements resonated with many.
“He connected with both the youth and adults. He inspired many and his death is a huge loss to Malawi. May his soul and the souls of the other eight rest in peace,” he said.
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Samuel Phiri, who is a student at University of Malawi and a percussionist, has also released a tribute.
“The nation is in mourning. I decided to do this tribute song looking at what the Vice President did for Malawi. I wish I performed it during the Vice President’s burial ceremony, however I know it is not easy but I would be happy if it can be listened by many people because it has the whole feeling of Malawian people, who are in pain,” Phiri said.
Other artists who have also released tributes include Pon G, Evans Meleka and Khozie Masimbe.
Arts and heritage associations have also offered condolences to President Lazarus Chakwera and First Lady Monica Chakwera, the Cabinet and all Malawians for the untimely loss of Chilima and eight others.
Chilima will be laid to rest on Monday next week at his home village of Nsipe in Ntcheu District whereas former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri will be laid to rest today.
