Ambassador Chidyaonga laid to rest: Malawi, Tanzania unity highlighted at funeral

The body of the late Malawian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ms Flossie Gomile Chidyaonga, who died on Friday in Dar es Salaam was laid to rest at Henry Henderson Institute  (HHI) Cemetery in Blantyre, on Wednesday.

The diplomat died after she collapsed at her home in Dar-es-Salaam on Friday, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesperson Quent Kalichero.

Thousands of mourners including delegates from Tanzania gathered to pay their last respect to Chidyaonga whose remains were interred at exactly 2:00pm,  She died at the age 54.

The first getleman and Flossie's daughter...Photo Jeromy Kadewere
The first getleman and Flossie’s daughter…Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Former First Lady Calister Mutharika came to pay her last respect to a long time friend.....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Former First Lady Calister Mutharika came to pay her last respect to a long time friend…..Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Devastated Flossie's daughter....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Devastated Flossie’s daughter….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Flossie to her final resting place...Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Flossie to her final resting place…Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Calister Mutharika behind the coffin....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Calister Mutharika behind the coffin….Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
They came to pay their last respect....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
They came to pay their last respect….Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
The late Flossie's friends paying heir tribute....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
The late Flossie’s friends paying heir tribute….Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Queen of peace resting in peace....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Queen of peace resting in peace….Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Finalising the grave yard....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Finalising the grave yard….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Laid to rest:  Chidyaonga
Laid to rest: Chidyaonga
Bye Bye mum.....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
Bye Bye mum…..Photo Jeromy Kadewere.

A cross section of  mourners that included the First Gentleman retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, Tanzania foreign minister Benard Membe, former first lady Calister Mutharika, minister of foreign affairs Ephraim Chiume, Chief Secretary to Government Hawa Ndilowe and high commissioners to Zambia, Norway in Tanzania .

In his condolence message which was read by his foreign minister, Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete hailed the Chidyaonga for her hardworking and dedication towards her job.

Kikwete said: “Death has robbed us a potential person, who was always cementing the relationship between Malawi and Tanzania. We are mourning with you for the loss of a wonderful daughter of your great country.”

He also said the Malawian dipomat’s  sudden death was a shock to Tanzania, describing Chidyaonga as “the queen of peace”.

Minister of foreign affairs Ephraim Chiume said President Joyce Banda was “deeply saddened” with the death of one of her ambassadors.

“Weeks ago Flossie welcomed us in Tanzania during that country’s independence day. She was in a perfect health and her death has shocked us,” said Chiume.

He,  however, hailed President Kikwete for his government generosity in assisting for an aircraft that brought the remains of Malawian ambassador home.

“President Kikwete called our President after the death of our ambassador to inform her that his government will provide an aircraft to carry the remains of Flossie. This is how brothers and sisters should behave, and we are very thankful to President Kikwete and his government,” said Chiume.

She was a graduate of Polytechnic. She was also a lecturer at the University of Malawi.

Chidyaonga, who is survived with a daughter, was also a member of the professional Women’s Association and in 1997 she spoke at the “Changing World Conference” on the behalf of the women about bulding transitional relations.

She was Malawi’s Deputy High Commissioner to London since 2006, before being appointed High Commissioner to Tanzania in 2011.

The body of the late Flossie was received by President Banda, who was forced to halt her political campaigns, led hundreds of mourners at the airport to receive the body of their beloved one. Malawi is conducting a general election on May 20.

Banda thanked President  Kikwete for his generosity and the support that his government extended to Malawi during this difficult moment.

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