Chihana’s grave desolate site: Malawi pro-democracy hero
Malawi’s hero of multiparty democracy Chakufwa Chihana’s tiny grave in the city of Mzuzu remains a desolate, abandoned site despite earlier government promises to erect a mausoleum befitting the fallen trade union, human rights activist nd served as the country’s second vice-president.
The administration of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika pledged to construct a mausoleum. And after Bingu’s death, his successor, Joyce Banda also said the structure would be built.
But now the grave has a faded Chihana portrait hanging under a falling roof, marked with untrimmed flowers, overgrown grass, and heavy dust settling on the unguarded grave, conjuring an eerie image, especially at night.
The grave stands in mockery of the state-of-the-art national mausoleum befitting a former Second Vice-President.
Chihana’s son Enock Chihana, who is Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president and member of Parliament (MP) for Rumphi Central Constituency, said the family is waiting for government to honour its promise to construct a K400 million mausoleum for the fallen freedom fighter.
“We are just waiting for the construction of the mausoleum. If government fails to construct it,
that is when as a family we can discuss what to do but at the moment let us give government a chance,” he said.
Minister of Information, Kondwani Nankhumwa said government has since submitted the drawings and the designs of the mausoleum on how it should look like to the Department of Economic planning and Development “to evaluate everything”.
Former president Bakili Muluzi in 2014 donated K1 million (about $2 000) towards the upgrading of the grave site of Chihana.
The late Chihana, is also among 37 individuals and organisations from 24 countries that were awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award since 1984. He got his award in 1992.
On 6 April 1992, Chakufwa Tom Chihana walked into the den of lions when he landed at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) and openly did the unthinkable. He challenged the entrenched Kamuzu Banda’s 31-year-old autocratic rule under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
Effectively, he put into motion, with others, a movement that saw the feared MCP regime crumble; hence entered into the annals of history as one of the founding fathers of Malawi’s multipartyism.
Chihana died in June 2006.
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He is a hero
Chihana remains a hero in the Malawian history. We can not erase him from the history of Malawi. If it was not for the regionalism, tribalism and the so many ism’s of Malawi; he would have been the first multi-party President of Malawi. The figure for the mausoleum could be contested but as a national figure, the nation has a duty for the maintenance of the graveyard where our hero lies. Demonisation of Enock does not help either.
he deserve it
How many mausoleums are we going to construct for our HEROES.uwu ndiye uchindere wakufikapo .
mpaka kudikira boma kuti likonze manda abambo ako inu muli pheee kuphwanya zonona
Much as I appreciate the need to honour Chihana for his contribution to the good of Malawi, I feel 400 million kwacha is miles beyond our financial resourses. It is unethical to spend 400 million for a grave yard when so many people die of preventable deaths in our hospitals. With 400 million you can buy lots of drugs to save lives of so many poor malawians who die of Maleria, TB and other diseases every year because of lack of drugs. However, the goverment should spend a reasonable amount to take care of Chihana’s grave. We should not politicize the issue. We must allow reason to guide us rather than politics.
Bakili ndi munthu wabwino mpaka adayamba kusogolera a Malawi kuti achitepo kanthu kukonza manda a Chakufwa. A Chair woyeeeeeeeeee. Osati mbuzi zinazi.
Enock was a full cabinet minister for 2 solid years and he could not do anything to honour his biological father. And now he wants to push the responsibility to others? Mwana uyu ali chindere chakufikapo. The fact that he grew up in Katola’s household in Kasungu dancing nyau does not make him less Mtumbuka. Zeleza.
The definition of a hero remains elusive in most Malawians. To begin with true heroes or heroines stand by their ideology. The history of Chakufwa, to me, is reminiscent of a biblical verse which talks about foolish Galatians. Yes, Chihana announced his coming to Malawi as democracy champion with the like of Muluzi. Unfortunately, these guys were not visionary and sophisticated enough to manage the demerits of democracy. If Malawi is a nation without morals/discipline today, these guys are the architects of indecency we are grappling with. These guys could stop at nothing to fraudulently amass wealth for themselves. For instance, they could form party alliances for personal gains. They bred crookery in this country. And somebody with all senses call such people heroes. My foot!
The poorest country in Africa planning to spend half a billion Kwacha on a mausoleum. With K400,000,000 we can construct 400 mijigos and name them after our Heroes. It is called killing two birds with one stone.
Mijigo yake yosatuluka madzi chifukwa cha chinyengo cha mulli ndi mia pano mwalowetsa chilombo saulosi mumva za gaffar
Bingu anamanga yekha, Chihana wasn’t a president why waste money what’s the fuss. This is family business.
If it were my father, regardless of what he meant to the nation, regardless of the promises by the government or whosoever and if it were detereoting. I would do it myself.
Face it my friends. He was a father first before a statesman. His children and relatives must be proud of that and give him the “respect”. He does not need a big thing. He only needs what the children and relatives can manage.
Enock go there slash the area with family as u r waiting fo govt.
Mpaka 400 million Kwacha? Msonkho wanga?
Like father like son ukhuluku pera enock nayo wali kukozgyako mbuzi yikubaba Chona cha vifukwa vikukwanira Nadi wakumwera wakuti mwana waku north chenjera nayo wakuteta cha, he only need to spend 0.1% of what he owns finish n klara, how much does a bull, transportation, extra, cost at his hands fokolu so why involves MG,
Enock nchitu Kutemwa ndalama na vinthu vyapachanya. Nadi ukulindizga bona kuti lizakazenge dindi la babusu? Aa nindachione!! Dindi thondo shuu mbwenu ukulindizga boma kuti lizakakweme. Uli apo uli apo chifukwa cha babusu. We chitapo kanthu apa. Unasoni iwe? Ukuluta nakulutako ku Dindi kukabikako maluwa iwe. Zengapo dankha lakukolelepo dindi kwali nda k5oo,ooo boma lipange soni. Ukati ukulhndizga boma pala latondeka ndipo na babali muzakadumbisyane ukung’ananantla vichi? Shupiti zako
Long live wina Mpoto Long live!
Kudalira waKatubwi na waPaphiphiyo chara, mbambula mahara. Chita ichi Enoch kuti tikukumbukire!
Wali kuhala chuma chinandi why don’t he give back
WE NEED TANGIBLE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NORTH NOT GRAVE YARD !!
WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN PERIOD DO YOU THINK YOU WILL TELL PEOPLE OF A GRAVE YARD ???
WILL THAT MAKE SENSE ???
Remember Kamuzu’s burial site it took 8 years to construct the Kamuzu mausoleum the father and founder of the Malawi nation and it was Bingu who spearheaded the move whilst Bakili was just sitting phwii
Chihana was a cheat, opportunist and he thought he was clever. He duped his friends in Zambia to steal the limelight and you call him a hero? The nation knows who true heroes are. He is still trying to steal the limelight even in his grave. So sad.
K400million? Grave gate chiani?
Malawi has had many heros: Makata, Chisiza,Gadama,Matenje,…the list us very long.
Prepare for your death to avoid this. Chihana had money and could have prepared for his grave when he was alive. Only Bingu was wise!
Wosaononga ndalama ndi zazii!
Mwanyane mukuneneska! Ka nadi nakukavutapo cha! Mbaya weee! A Enocki!!!!!!!!!!!
Munthu adafa kalekale. Thandizani anthu ali moyo. mk400m manda. no way.
Iwe Enoch manda abambo ako u r waiting for govt to spend 400million for what.
Democracy without food? Please let us focus with the problems at hand. Worry about who are alive NOW not who are dead.
Nadi a Enock Chihana mukulindilira vaboma even to clear the bush around the dindi la vapapa vinu???? Mwatikhozga soni na zgolo linu ilo. Mahara alimo nadi muzgolo ilo?
Bati mwabanyane. Iwe Enoki yambako kuti tabakwinu tilondezge mumasinda. Tingakuleka wekha ngeti? Yayi. Ambangako mwana wakwithu.
Let us all contribute five hans towards his mausoleum
wakawekha uziona
Federalism and independence on your doorstep.
Manda a kwathu ndinawaka ndekha. Uyu Enock ndi chindere chakufikapo.
I repeat: let us stop spending millions on mipulo ya bata! Chihana did his part; and so did Orton Chirwa, John Chilembwe, and many silent maryrs. We cannot afford to build mipumulo ya bata for all of them. We cannot afford these rediculos expenses for all our past and future presidents. It does not make financial or moral sense.
Manda a Chakufwa Tom Chihana ayenela kukhala a ndalama zambiri. Ndipo 400 million kwacha ikuchepa. At least akanakhala manda a K1 billion bola. Chihana adali mwamuna osati zinazi tikuziona zokayendera kona ya ndende. Chihana anali katakwe. Ndipo akadayenera kupatsidwa dzina loti Ngwazi. Osati aja pa nthawi yaulamuliro wawo kudasowa K92 billion. Chihana sanali wamasewera. Anali mwamuna weni weni. Muzimu wake uwuse mumtendere.
Mwapulika wa Enock kuti kumala kwa week iyi muwikepo wanyamata watchetchepo next week monday wa nyasa times wazamuwunapo wapulika.
Where is his family
LIVINGSTONIA SYNOD should spearhead the construction of mausoleum and all the northers we need to raise money by making contributions through the SYNOD.
Why were the poles at the grave painted blue? A national figure belongs to the whole nation, so painting the poles blue shows that he was an AFORD Hero and not a Malawi hero. May the AFORD party build the mausoleum. More over K400,000,000.00 can not be sent to the grave yet the living are suffering.
Its only those who have three meals a day who think about the dead. Even Jesus had told his disciples thus: Let the dead burry the dead.
Which sane president or govt can be thinking to waste money on a Dead Hero leaving the flood victims hungry and in dire need of shelter. I can see form the picture that the grave is much more sheltered than one poor family in Nsanje, Mulanje, Zomba and Lilongwe City where they are sheltered in a tent.
Its only a mad person who could be shouting for help from well wishers at the same time he is throwing away the hands given to dogs.
Enock”do you mean just to clean and trim the flowers you are also waiting for the government?
Much as the family is waiting for the government to construct a state of the art mausoleum, iweyo Enoch, you can mobilise some ganyu boys to cut the shrub. It’s your father’s grave man, a fallen hero!
Boma la lomwe okhaoka ilo forget zoti angakhonze china chilichonse chokhudza anthu akumpoto. Blame it on influential northerners that are supporting the Mutharikas.
But Enoki, do something little as you are waiting from government. Just slashing around your fathers’ grave cant cost you MK5,000.00 I hope. He was, He is and he will be my Hero in this world of politics even though am from Dedza. May god bless your future plans enoki.
Chihana was indeed a Hero! Koma Enock Chihana is stupid, he was in Government ndi JB as a Minister and he was not able to ask government (in which he served) to do anything about his father. Lero he is out ndiye aziti government blah blah blah!!!!!!!!!! Chitsiru Enock
kodi mesa iyeyu ali ndi ana ake komanso achibale? bwanji iwowa sakukonza manda? kumangoodikira boma zilizonse mukuona ngati misonkho yathu tilibe nayo zochita? freeedom fighter wa chani
Mausoleum or none, he remains our hero in our hearts and minds!
Enock CHIHANA is not serious. He was in the Government but nothing he has done. 2006 ndikale kwambiri. R u serous!
mmm
his only son is busy kufuna ufumu mmalo mowaka manda a bambo ake, shame on you enock, the time you was a minister you didn’t even push for that instead you’re just polishing mama jb shoes and cash gating and chasing skirts, usovenge
For sure, Chihana is one of our heroes, in as far as democracy in this country is concerned. The unsung heroes however are the Catholic Bishops. These were the people who first openly challenged Kamuzu and the one party state from within, through their Pastoral Letter titled ‘Living Our Faith’. We all remember how the Bishops were demonized, arrested and a special MCP Convention convened, where they resolved to have them killed.
When the world’s attention started focusing on the country, as a result of the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, the Chihana’s seized the opportunity and made calculated moves, rising to the occasion. Why do I say calculated; He made sure that he starts his crusade away from Ground Zero. He was in Zambia when he started referring to Kamuzu as a murderer on BBC. After capturing sufficient world attention, he then declared that he is coming home on this particular day to challenge Kamuzu. Obviously, with the fire already started by the Bishops, and the international media following Chihana’s every step, Kamuzu could not make the mistake of arresting and making him meat for crocodiles, as he usually boasted.
If Chihana had made the statements he made to BBC in Zambia, to a local journalist while in Malawi, some six or more months earlier, he would have quietly disappeared like the many others that we hear of, who vanished from the face of the earth without trace. And life would go on.
I am not underrating the courage and role played by ‘simbi ya moto’, but saying that as we remember our heroes, let us also acknowledge the important role played by the Bishops, who actually opened the Pandora’s box as it were. The rest as they say is history.
I love ur analysis Mr you are sooo unbiased remain true till the end & God will reward you at the end coz God lives truthfulness.
He did not have to be a dead hero, with no results. Chihana was strategic in holding the hammer and striking at the right time to have some results for his daring move. There is always some grounding work by others in any scheme. While all other grounding realities are important, decisive moves hitting the nail on the head are also important. There is no small or large hero. Heroism is recognized for specific action. Chihana’s heroism was in SEIZING the hammer when the time was ripe to deal a decisive blow to the blockage on multiparty ism and sustain the momentum towards democratization of his country. That does erase the heroism of the Bishops to issue a frank pastoral letter critiquing the political oppression of the time. If Chihana did not arise like he did, the pastoral letters’ impact would have been contained or tamed by the baby sitters of the oppressive political governance system. Today we vote every five years, but we are still oppressed by those who get political power. We still do not trust the electoral results. The next hero should stop this oppression and also make the election process credible and transparent.
If you voted for DPP, APM would have built the mausoleum! Go and get your refugee (JB)whom you voted for. Or wait for 2034 when there will be federal system of government in Malawi
k400 million for just a graveyard of course he fought for tumbukas including enock chinkhope chihana but the investment is not worth it for a mosoleum whose purpose is to grorify a dead person Malawian people will you be serious for once in some of your expenditures i rest my case.kungomva kuti ndalama za boma zilibe stock mpakana ndi a chihana omwe……..ati democracy,multiparty,introduction of federation.kenako muyamba abduction of albinos Malawi kuchemelera zilizonse.
Malawians are pathetic lot. We can’t even honor our heroes. All we do is cash gate. I think Government under Peter should so the unthinkable, close its eyes and construction must begin. RIP wabefu.
Enock Chihana akupanga chani ..zilizonse boma …?????
Aboma ayenela kuchitapo kanthudi pa musogoleli amane anazesa ufulu wa zipani zambiliyu.
can we say the late chihana dont hav relatives to atleast clear the bush.they are also waiting 4 the gvt to do th@?
Chihana did so much for democracy in Malawi. However, people took him not so seriously afterwards as he was associated with politics jumping from one bandwagon to the other. Chihana was not solid on his ideas and had no ideology to follow. This is the reason why we have forgotten his grave. Very sad but I am sure someone will assist.
Easily said than done!
does the family even visit the place? chili chose ‘government’ basi
400 million u must be kidding people, u only need 50 000 kwacha max to sort out the area not to be rude. 400 milion is just rediculous
Am always thinking that if Chakufwa Chihana became the president of malawi in 1994 may be Malawians could be enjoying the fruits of real democry and real freedom and rule of law. I remember when he came to visit us in Kasungu in 1993, Mr. Chihana was a good leader. If he was given a chance to lead Malawi, things could be different by now. May be Malawi could not be the poorest country in the whole world. May be Malawi could be rich by now. Malawians will always miss this Hero, CHAKUFWA TOM CHIHANA. See what we got now, the whole presidency visiting a corner, A corner? May Chihana’s Soul Rest in Peace.
He was given a chance, competed for the presidency, ditched critical support for AforD on flimsy miscalculations and consequently lost the 1994 multiparty elections. The rest as they say is history. Despite all that he remains our hero even in death even without a govt sponsored mausoleum. As concerned citizens we can do something and not keep barking at the executive and parliament, who are the arms of govt who can initiate real govt response to the matter of mausoleum. RIP. So this April 6, honour the man by doing something!
What nonsense! APM akusilira atakhala mndende. Ndipotu adzakhalamo. Adzaiona yeniyeni. Milandu ndi yambiri ndipo idzatsekulidwa: kuphedwa kwa mwana wa sukulu, kufuna kulanda boma koma, kugula nyumba zaboma mwachinyengo, komanso 92billion.
My fellow northers it’s time to start pressing hard for federalism the grave of our hero looks like garbage pit this is a wake up call.They are enjoying democracy which which Chihana fought for northers.Wukani madoda amama bafanabafana wasungwana
The family must be serious!!
its a shame to a family that has got Millions in assets,
do you have to wait for the Government to at least maintain the state of the grave?
Please you can use your own resources to honor your father for now.
its a shame,
The relatives were supposed to raise an alarm, i do not thim=nk our Gvt can fail to give respect this Hero deserves.
Zautsiru. Enock Katola Chihana ali kuti osakonza manda a bambo ake bweanji? Inu a mbwenumbwenu matama onse aja, ma demo onse aja, shaaaa, mukulephera kutchetcha pamanda zoona?
We have more pressing issues to care other than dead people .let his family take care without bothering the country. He has his son who is apresident of a political party
Ba Enock chonde bikani mugomba pachanya apo. Nadi thabwa la payini nalo lingalindizga boma? Chinthu chikuwa naa!!
Real heros, real Freedom fighters, brave sons and daughters of Malawi, not the luck opportunist we have at State House. Someone please educate the president by mistake we have that he is a nobody interms of freedom fighting and where was he when brave people fought Kamuzu
The family should all the same try to take care of his grave site. Family love and politics are completely different so the family can as well do the needful rather than wait for government!
For God’s sake let us not invest in the dead. Why are we spending billions on the dead instead of the living?
Just check the simplicity of the grave of J.F. Kennedy?
Ndalama zake ziti?