Opposition shun Ngolongoliwa funeral ceremony in Thyolo

July 31, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 38 Comments

Opposition leaders were conspicuously missing at the funeral of paramount chief in Thyolo on Wednesday as their names were as well conspicuously missing from the list of dignitaries invited for the solemn ceremony.

Former president Bakili Muluzi with Minister Phiri at the funeral
Malawi army soldiers carry the remains of chief Ngolongoliwa
President Peter mutharika pays respect to Ngolongoliwa

The death comes at a time when the country is experiencing heightened political crisis following the highly disputed May 21 presidential election.

Malawi Congress Party president Lazarus Chakwera and UTM president Saulos Chilima, leaders of the two main parties in the country did not attend the funeral ceremony.

Party officials for MCP and UTM said protocol demands that they be invited and seats are arranged in advance, saying they could not guarantee their safety if they went uninvited in view of the current hostile political atmosphere.

Speaking at the funeral ceremony, minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri said called on politicians to put aside their political differences when calamity strikes.

“As you can see, we do not have opposition leaders here. Our fallen chief transcended beyond politics,” said Phiri.

Also missing were First Lady Gertrude Mutharika and Second Lady Judith Mutharika who are currently in UK having attended the graduation ceremony of president Peter Mutharika’s step son, Tadikira, a private trip that has cost the tax payer a whopping K100 million drawing both local and international outrage.

President Peter Mutharika attended the ceremony but could not give his eulogies, saying he was too grieved to do so.

Speaking on behalf of the president, minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Kondwani Nankhumwa who urged the Mulhakho wa Alhomwe to avoid squabbles when choosing the next Lhomwe paramount chief.

“I urge you to do it peacefully with a unity purpose. We do not want to have a long vacuum as it happened after the death of chief Mkumba because of disagreements,” he said.

Chief Ngolongoliwa was a divisive figure, who was blamed by his critics for being too partisan to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

 

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38 replies on “Opposition shun Ngolongoliwa funeral ceremony in Thyolo”

  1. sopano zomangoti state funeral,state funeral mukunyasa nazo, jodi simudziwa zimasokoneza eni malilo kusazikana ndi mbelaao

  3. kaya sanapiteko zilibe ntchito mbava zimayikana zokhazokha i dont see any issue here! APM must fall basi

  5. JUDITH CHIMULIRENJI AND GERTRUDE MUTHALIKA INCLUDING THEIR TEAM OF JEZEBELS SHUNNED THE FENERAL –‘–STILL IN THE UK SHOPPING ON OUR TAXES —-WE WILL INCLUDE THEM IN DEMOS SO THEY CAN REFUND OUR TAXES MONEY WITH INTERESTS !!!

  9. Firstly Pakali Pano Palibe Opposition Leaders…Chisankho chiri Ku Nkhothi..
    Secondly Ngati mumatowamenya Anthu za John Chilembwe …Ukuku zinakatokhala Bwanji…Mr Ben Culture Groups should be Inviting Public Figures to Their Ceremonies,Funerals for Chiefs kwa Chikulamayembe Kuja Chakwera, Chilima were invited and had Pre arranged Seats…Did you Invite these People…? Munatobweresa Zimenezi zomati Ife Alhomwe,Achewa,Atumbuka NDINU …Nthawi ya Ngwazi Kunalibe…

  10. I agree, opposition parties alakwitsa kusapitako kwambiri, chifukwa akanapita bwenzi Ngolongoliwa atadzuka pano ali moyo.

  11. Eh. Bakili ndiye akunyambitatu mbuyo ya DPP. Mpaka matuvi pa kamwa. Fighting to keep the 1.7 billion case at bay.

  12. 💩💩💩💩💩💩. Manyi. Ziphwisi ndi zina zotero. Pali nkhani apa? My dog Bruce died in 1999.

  13. Our Army is being abused. Why not use DPP cadets to bury their own. This Chief was like any other ordinary chief in Malawi. What did he do to deserve state funeral? Was just elevated in 2017 and Thyolo remains the poorest district in Malawi. If he was a good chief why not help people of the district out of the deep poverty.

    1. Koma ndiye. Nundwe asatengeke nawo anthu a DPP awa. Anthu akuba ndi kupha. Who can forget DPP evil deeds?

  14. Koma ndiye Military is being abused why should Military be involved in burying of Traditional Leaders?????? Is it constitutional????? General Nundwe Sir, would you please lead the constitution to these DPP people it seems like they dont know. Ngolongoliqa was a Cadet through & through so I font see why the opposition should have thought of attending a DPP function. We have well respected Chiefs in Malawi who know that Parties come & go BUT government remains.

  15. If I were the writer of the article I would not have considered broadcasting it. As a Christian no matter what one would not be proud to shun the funeral of a perceived enemy. Love and pray for those you do not agree with.

  16. Chiiima And Chakwera did not need invitation. Ndani amene amaitanidwa kupita ku zovuta??Ndi umunthu basi which the two don’t possess. Kwawo ndi kuchita organize ziwonetsero on behalf of HRDC.

    1. So why forcing them while it is their personal wish to attend funeral of your tribe man? Idiot!

  21. Sangabwere kumeneko chifukwa kampeni inatha ,ikanakhala nthawi ya kampeni bwezi akuchita kukanganira kuyankhula kumeneko.Apa ndipamene awonesera kuti sangakhale mapresident .Iwo ndi apposition basiiiiii

  24. At least the UTM leadership would have been present as UTM is the late paramount’s brain child

  25. Zatha izo, how can you talk of opposition leaders when you didn’t invite them? After all he was DPP chief not local chief.

      3. A kuthundira! What kind of president who does not invite opposition? I am glad Chilima sanapite cifukwa he would have stolen the show, funeral or not.Uyo wapita ndi DPP yace.

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