By Isaac Salima:
Grief and drama were prevailing emotions Friday as Balaka residents joined the general public in bidding farewell to former First Lady, Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri.
Dzimbiri’s life was cut short on Monday in a plane crash that also robbed the country of its Vice President Saulos Chilima and seven other public officials.
The funeral ceremony that took place at Chimpikizo Village in Traditional Authority Chanthunya in Balaka District was punctuated by some drama as some people clad in UTM and United Democratic Front regalia did not want some government officials to speak.
It all started when Master of Ceremonies, veteran broadcaster Owen Lupeska, invited former president Joyce Banda to speak.
The people shouted in disagreement, forcing former President Bakili Muluzi to intervene.
“Dr Joyce Banda is part of our family and allow her to speak,” Muluzi said.
In her brief statement, Banda praised Dzimbiri for her humility.
There were also boos when Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara was invited to take to the podium to convey her message.
Muluzi also grabbed the microphone to beg the people to allow all the officials speak.
Hara got off the microphone and instead delegated presidential advisor Maxwell Thyolera to speak.
“The President is saddened with the death of Madam Dzimbiri because she was a valuable figure in the country.
The President is with you in this troubled period,” Thyolera said.
From there, peace returned.
Representing UTM, the party’s spokesperson Felix Njawala said it was not time to cry but rather learn from the deceased’s character.
“She was humble, prayerful and cheerful. She taught us that despite being a popular and not an ordinary figure, you can also be prayerful,” Njawala said.
A church ceremony later was punctuated by a joyful atmosphere as wished by the departed who had previously sent an email to her relations describing how her funeral procession should be conducted.
Other notable figures present included former First Lady Gertrude Mutharika, cabinet ministers Abida Mia and Halima Daudi.
Born in 1964, Dzimbiri is survived by five children.
Until her death, she was a UTM member and an assistant in Chilima’s office.
