MCP, DPP take political rivalry to a chief’s funeral

In African culture, funerals are most respected places than any place. Malawi is not spared from that culture. Funerals are in most cases accompanied by sombre mood and dignified mourning from family relations and friends.

In African setup funerals unite people despite social status in the society.
Anyone found misbehaving during funeral in Malawi is summoned before the chiefs and discplined depending on the gravity of the offence.

However, this was not the case on Monday in Ntchisi when the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) refused the Malawi Congress Party(MCP) to mourn during the burial of Traditional Authority Chilooko of Ntchisi who passed away few days ago at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Drama started when DPP officials openly declared that the funeral is for government so there was no need for leader of opposition Dr Lazarus Chakwera to give his euology.

Government angered the MCP camp who went and grab the microphone from DPP Secretary General Ecklen Kudontoni and handed it over to MCP leader Chakwera.

When Chakwera finished his eulogy, the microphone was also handed to government side.

Kudontoni in an interview with Nyasa Times accused MCP of trying to politicize the funeral.

“The problem is that Chakwera wanted that his presence should be felt but what I know is that funeral especially that of T/A is run by Government,” said Kudontoni.

But iMCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwira counter accused DPP of politicking the bereavement.

” It is DPP which politicised the funeral. What DPP should know is that Dr Chakwera is a leader of opposition in this country, Dr Chakwera is MCP president and in African culture no one is refused to mourn, Dr Chakwera has a right as a bonafide Malawian to deliver his eulogy,” said Kabwira.

Meanwhile it is not known if chiefs in the area are going to summon members of the two parties for causing problems during the funeral ceremony.

Senior chief Malenga of Ntchisi who happen to be spokesperson of the believed family confirmed to Nyasa Times about the incident.