Chikulamayembe’s burial could bring Mutharika, Chilima together
The stage appears to be set for President Peter Mutharika and his embattled Vice-President Saulos Chilima to meet as both have confirmed to attend the funeral of at the funeral service of Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe at Bolero in Rumphi today, Tuesday.
This will probably be the first time the two will meet at an event since Chilima severed ties with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and formed his own United Transformation Movement (UTM), which has emerged one of DPP’s biggest rivals in the run-up to the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Initially, Principal Secretary (Administration) the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) , Cliff Chiunda, issued a statement that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa would represent the President at the funeral service at Chilongozgi Village in Bolero, Rumphi.
The statement added that Mutharika had directed that the late Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, born Walter John Hardy Gondwe, “be accorded a burial with military honours”.
But after Chilima’s office confirmed the Vice Presudent would attend the funeral ceremony, the second statement issued last evening classified as ‘Revised’ and signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara, OPC said the funeral service would start at 1pm and that the President would attend.
“The late Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe will be buried with military honours and His Excellency the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, will be in attendance,” reads the statement made available to Nyasa Times.
Leader of opposition and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera is among some political figures to attend the funeral.
CCAP Livingstonia Synod general secretary the Reverend Levi Nyondo has since warned politicians against donning party colours.
During a church service in Mzuzu to see off the chief’s body, he said: “Wearing of political colours brings confusion. We will not allow any person to bring political colours. Anyone who dares will be chased away.”
let everyone speak,dont you know government protocals?
As expected, government removed everyone who is not DPP from the programme. MCP and Veep not allowed to speak, much to the dismay of the people who attended. If i were APM i would have openly said let everyone speak, it would have given him some kudos. But as usual, he sat phwii fiddling whilst his cadets bullied everyone including priests.
musasonyeze umbuli inu VP alakhula chani when the president is there? Did the deputy Moderator Speak after the Moderator had spoken.Walk the talk man..Why so many speeches when time z limited.
Pena pake zinthu ngati zimenezi ndikuona kuti akulu akulu ampingo ndiamene ali osokoneza.President wadziko ndiamene amayenera kuyankhura monga President wadziko.Enawo pamafunika kuti azapange ntsonkhano wawo wachipani osati ayankhure pamaso pa President ayi.President wadziko ndimunthu ofunika ulemu wake monga President wadziko.Zimene zinachitikazi zisadzachitikenso chonde chonde ampingo.
Big man, don’t display your ignoramus here. The Vice President was not supposed to speak after his boss. No where in a civilised world will that happen. Don’t forget he is still state Vice President, and protocol does not allow him to speak unless he has been delegated to do so. Let us put politics aside and do things in a civilised and orderly environment. The Moderator need to be advised not to show off his stupidity in such places. The family of late chief , the government and the church were to come together and agree to just dreaming.… Read more »