him is a serious source of sadness to me
Veteran poet Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga has joined 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.
Wokomaatani Malunga, famed for poems such as ‘Ndizakutengera Kunyanja Ligineti’ and ‘Siananso Awa’, posted the poem titled ‘Grief Without Limit’ on his Facebook page, saying, just as every Malawian is mourning, he decided to mourn through poetry.
“This is 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,” he said.
Wokomaatani said in case of the Vice President, he was a former student at the University of Malawi, formerly Chancellor College, “where once upon a time I served as assistant registrar responsible for student affairs”.
“He therefore interacted with me regularly when he was Director of Entertainment. I also prayed with him in the Catholic community.
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“I therefore witnessed his growth as a leader in his formative years. Seeing him as a capable Vice President was my greatest joy. Needless to say therefore that the sudden loss of him is a serious source of sadness to me captured in my lines drenched with tears,” Wokomaatani said.
In the poem, Wokomaatani writes:
The weight of heartfelt sorrow
Triggered by a brutal demise
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Does not sink easily
When it brings
More existential and intriguing questions
Than sobering answers
To suture torn hearts
Such is the nature
Of aerial death
The veteran poet goes on to say:
Enveloped in the mysterious wrath
Of overeager premature death
Hidden in the metal of a donnier
Preferring to abandon transportation
But opting to become
An unorthodox morgue
Concealing precious lives momentarily
In hills hard to navigate on a showering day
Disrupting their cherished good will
Derailing their treasured mission to mourn
Another soul vanquished by proud death
Proving the words of Jim Reeves right
This World Is Not Our Home
May be Across The Bridge…
Musicians Union of Malawi (Mum) and Film Association of Malawi (Fama) 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.
Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust, through Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V, has also sent in their condolences to President Chakwera for the sudden death of Chilima, who was an impi, and eight others.
Karonga- Chitipa Cultural Heritage, through Ntemi Gwa Batemi Kyungu XXIV, also has sent its message of condolences to Chakwera and all Malawians following the loss of Chilima and eight others.
It has since described Chilima as someone who treasured the country’s culture and promoted it.
Chakwera, on Tuesday, directed that the nation observes a period of 21 days of mourning in honour of Chilima and eight others. He also directed that all flags be flown at half-mast throughout the period of mourning.
