By Cathy Maulidi:
In 2019, at the heat of campaign for elections, Vice President Saulos Chilima vowed at a rally that he was ready to stand for what was good for the country.
He swore he was prepared to die for the national flag.
Friday, that national flag draped his coffin – the whole of it.
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And so it was an afternoon clothed in emotions of heart break in Lilongwe City.
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Since the plane crash that killed Chilima and 8 other Malawians on Monday, this was the first time many Malawians had come close to his body.
Among the first to see the coffin as military officers trolleyed it out at Goodwill Funeral Home in Area 4 in Lilongwe were his wife, Mary and her two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
The widow broke down in tears as the coffin passed in front of her.
Even the Commander- In-Chief himself, President Lazarus Chakwera, who sat two chairs away from Mary had his eyes filled with tears as the casket was being laid in front of him and the First Lady Monica.
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Here, one could touch the grief.
Two of Chilima’s relations failed to hold themselves. Comforters had to walk them away as they broke down inconsolably.
“No, Chilima can’t be gone,” one cry went.
In his short prayer, Father Augustine Katundu described Chilima as a humble and dedicated individual.
“We have lost a great man. We shall always remember him for the good things he did to the church and to the nation,” he said.
After paying his respects, Chakwera left the funeral home for St Patrick’s Parish in Area 18 for a requiem mass for the departed Vice President, a devout Catholic.
Along the way, people stood in shock, with others shedding tears, as the military cortege passed through Chilambula Road.
There were waves of goodbye to a Vice President, to a friend, to a fellow church member, to a sports man, to an economist.
At St Patricks, the premises were choc-a-bloc with people too. On a normal day, the space inside the church accommodates everyone. Not today.
Alongside Archbishop George Tambala and others, Lilongwe Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa presided over the requiem mass.
Mwakhwawa said the church has lost a true and devout member.
He consoled Chilima’s wife and the children for the tragic loss.
To the country, Mwakhwawa said Chilima’s vision remained.
“It is not the end of his vision and plans. These will continue and he will help better to have them implemented now that he is with God,” Mwakhwawa said.
Parish Priest Father Henry Zulu said the parish recognizes Chilima as its saint because of the way he lived his life.
“He was a good source of joy. He was a church elder,” Zulu said.
Vice chairman of the parish Bishop Matthews Mtumbuka said Chilima’s death was a big blow.
He said Chilima made a substantial contribution to the reconstruction of the new magnificent K1 billion church building at the site.
Thereafter, Chilima’s body was taken to his residence in Area 12 where it lies in state.
Minutes after arrival, soldiers fired gunshots in honour of the departed Vice President.
Chilima’s body is expected to continue to lie in state at Parliament, before a public funeral ceremony at Bingu National Stadium tomorrow from where a procession will lead to his home village at Nsipe in Ntcheu where he will be buried on Monday.
This plane crash has pushed emotions high. Malawi is in a grip of a big and potentially volatile moment such that Malawi Police Service has suspended allowing officers to go on leave.
A police communication, dated June 11, 2024, which we have seen, reads:
“Strict stand-by. In view of the current situation in the country all police officers are on standby with immediate effect.
“Therefore going on leave is suspended until further notice. Treat the matter important.”
The message bears the stamp of Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for administration.
And United States of America embassy in Malawi has issued own alert to its citizens.
“Due to funerals and other activities associated with Monday’s plane crash, there is likely to be increased vehicular and foot traffic over the weekend in areas of Lilongwe including well-travelled routes. There is potential for civil unrest and it is always possible for crowds to grow and turn violent without warning,” reads the alert dated June 13, 2024.
On Wednesday, some women and men clad in UTM attire protested the presence of the Speaker of the National Assembly when she arrived at the Vice President’s Area 12 residence to extend her condolences to the family.
The Speaker, Catherine Gotani Hara did not stay long.
