Long at Last: Family Launches Construction of Mausoleum for Pro-Democracy Icon Chakufwa Chihana in Mzuzu
Family members of Malawi’s veteran pro-democracy activist Chakufwa Thom Chihana have officially launched the construction of a mausoleum in his honour in Mzuzu.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday and was attended by family members, church leaders, and supporters who gathered to celebrate the legacy of the man widely regarded as one of the key figures in Malawi’s struggle for multiparty democracy.
Speaking after the ceremony, Second Vice-President Enock Chihana—who is also the son of the late Chakufwa Chihana—said the project is being spearheaded by the family with support from well-wishers who want to see the legacy of the veteran politician preserved.
Chihana explained that the mausoleum will be more than just a burial site. According to him, the facility will include a tombstone, an office, a library, and an ablution block. The aim, he said, is to create a space that will preserve the history of Malawi’s fight for political freedom and multiparty democracy.
He added that before embarking on the project, he consulted President Peter Mutharika, who welcomed and supported the idea for the family to construct the mausoleum.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) National Organising Secretary Nelson Mataya Nyirenda used the occasion to criticize previous administrations for failing to construct a mausoleum for the late pro-democracy icon.
Nyirenda said the construction should have been done long ago in recognition of Chihana’s contribution to the country’s democratic transition.
The ceremony began with a service of worship led by church leaders from the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, who offered prayers and reflections on Chihana’s life and his contribution to Malawi’s political transformation.
Background
Chakufwa Thom Chihana was one of the most prominent figures in Malawi’s political history. During the one-party rule of former president Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Chihana emerged as a strong critic of the regime and became one of the leading voices demanding political reform.
In 1992, Chihana returned to Malawi from exile and publicly challenged the one-party system, calling for the introduction of multiparty democracy. His arrest shortly after his return sparked widespread protests and intensified the national debate about democratic reforms.
His efforts, along with pressure from civil society, churches and the international community, helped pave the way for the historic 1993 national referendum in which Malawians voted overwhelmingly to end one-party rule and adopt a multiparty political system.
Following the transition to democracy, Chihana later served as Second Vice-President of Malawi and remained a key political figure for many years.
He died on June 12, 2006, at the age of 67 and was accorded a State funeral in recognition of his role in the country’s democratic struggle.
The planned mausoleum in Mzuzu is expected to stand as a lasting tribute to his life, political courage, and contribution to the birth of democracy in Malawi.
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