Former Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe was laid to rest Monday at his home in Enukweni, Mzimba District, but political tension nearly spoiled the burial ceremony of one of Malawi’s greatest economists.
As expected, the State funeral attracted people from all political, religious and social divides of the country.
There were also political party royalists whose jeers, noise and songs, particularly those from the erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), could not go unnoticed.
Tension started to grow when delegates were arriving.
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According to the programme, Malawi’s former president, who is also DPP president Peter Mutharika, was supposed to arrive first before Vice President Saulos Chilima.
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However, Chilima arrived earlier and those in charge of the programme had to wait for close to an hour as Mutharika had not yet arrived.
This did not please the clergy who, led by leaders of Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, called those at the funeral ceremony to order and, consequently, Mutharika failed to see off Gondwe’s remains.
When Mutharika was taking his seat, party zealots chanted songs in which they drummed up support for his 2025 elections candidature.
Livingstonia Synod General Secretary Reverend William Tembo, who moderated the ceremony, had to diplomatically condemn the act
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“We have come here not because of parties but we are here because of the funeral. Let us conduct ourselves in a manner that befits a funeral,” he said.
But party supporters persisted.
Member of Parliament for the area, Yeremia Chihana, seemed to take no notice of the call as he took to task Chilima on his campaign promise to reduce fertiliser prices.
His joke left people with mixed reactions.
Not even Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa could salvage the situation.
Nankhumwa seemed to suggest that political party leaders could seize the opportunity to show a sense of unity.
Taking his turn, former vice president Khumbo Kachale cautioned counterparts in the DPP camp that time for campaign would come, urging them to utilise it accordingly.
Similarly, Chilima started his speech by condemning speakers who used the stage for political reasons.
“The man we are burying today was a dignified citizen and, therefore, our conduct and behaviour in this place must reflect the dignity and respect that Hon Goodall Gondwe deserves. We should leave the rest for the right moment. We also know how to speak and we know how to do these things. Today is a day to honour none other than the one Goodall Edward Gondwe,” he said.
Chilima then said Gondwe was a man whose economic ideologies have to be reflected in the country
In his tribute, Mutharika took patrons down memory lane, saying he had known Gondwe for over 65 years.
Until his death, Gondwe was DPP vice president responsible for the Northern Region.
Born on December 1 1936, the revered economist spent 22 years at the International Monetary Fund, four at the African Development Bank and 18 in Malawi’s public service.
He died at the age of 87.
