Political posturing and rivalry stunts at Chikulamayembe funeral condemned:  Call for code of conduct

Malawian newspapers on Wednesday has been dominated with events during the funeral service of the departed Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe of the Tumbuka (Nkhamanga Kingdom) at Bolero in Rumphi with  both dailies carrying extended coverage through editorial comments condemning the drama and a governance commentator has  added his voice to the political posturing.

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) pallbearers carrying late Chikulamayembe’s casket
The funeral of Chikulamayembe

“Shameful” was the banner headline in the Daily Times while its competitor, The Nation, also treated Chikulamayembe’s funeral drama as a main story under the headline: “Shame on you.”

Both papers detailed the drama after Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Livingstonia Synod general secretary Reverend Levi Nyondo wanted Vice-President Saulos Chilima and leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera to be accorded time to give their eulogies.

But one of the chiefs grabbed the microphone from the reverend, asking all to respect protocol that demands that nobody makes remarks after the President.

After some interventions from chiefs and an apology was made directed to the church, the ceremony proceeded with a caution from the church- “Mungazakawelezgangaso cha!!!” [don’t dare repeat this],  in future similar ceremonies where they are involved, they must be involved in the making of the programme.

In extended coverage, The Daily Times editorial comment under the headline ‘Let the departed rest in peace with honour’, noted that the bad and unacceptable culture of politicking funerals of prominent figures is creeping into society.

It said none among the parties involved in the “drab drama” at Chikulamayembe’s funeral can stand on the moral higher ground to claim innocence.

“All the parties involved are to blame,” the paper said.

In The Nation, ‘Political posturing at funeral unfortunate’ was the headline of the editorial.

The paper designated a lot of space highlighting that the drama at the funeral was “out of order and a missed opportunity on the part of political leaders.”

It said that traditionally, funeral services are solemn occasions which, in many instances, provide the bereaved families and society at large an opportunity to celebrate the life of the departed.

“It was, therefore, unfortunate and primitive for politicians to use the sombre ceremony for political posturing instead of celebrating the departed chief’s life by giving him a befitting farewell. The rivalry and partisan stunts were a missed opportunity,” reads the editorial in part.

The paper said politics should not make Malawians discard their cultural values and commended the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia clergy for noting the anomalies based in political posturing and condemning the same there and then.

Adding his voice, governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that the events during the funeral in Rumphi are “regrettable and embarrassing.”

He also noted that it is now becoming common that during high profiled funerals government has used such platforms to bar other politicians to speak, and fears such a trend will continue especially as the nation approach the 2019 Tripartite  Elections.

Munthali also observed rightly like the papers that in State affairs, there is set protocol to recognise the presence of holders of public office and that indeed one does not lose their influence by merely stating relevant salutations.

“I believe if government in consultation with the bereaved families and officiating clergy jointly came up with the program which amongst other things would ensure that the representatives of opposition parties [give their eulogies] as well as the Synod General Secretary, the embarrassment the Synod brought in front of the President Peter Mutharika by lecturing government right protocols would have been avoided.

“After all, late Chikulamayembe is well known to have been non-partisan and wielded respect across political divide, and as such it would have been fair enough to us give other political parties a chance to appreciate such a life,” Munthali told Nyasa Times.

He disputed that at a State funeral government should exercise monopoly in deciding on who should speak.

“Whether State funeral no State funeral government must directly consult the family, chiefs and even the officiating church when coming up with the program. This would ensure that no political party hijacks the funeral to score a political point. It’s sad to note that the DPP has often viewed funerals as a critical juncture to directly or indirectly campaign hence viewed the presence of fierce critics like UTM and MCP at funerals as a threat no wonder denying them any opportunity to speak.

[“Its important that our politicians realised that funerals are sad moments which often unite people of different political background as they mourn their beloved ones. Moving forward I would recommend that a code of conduct during state funerals or any high profiled funeral where various political leaders attend should be developed and signed by all political leaders, chiefs and churches,” he said.

Munthali said the Code of Conduct should clearly illustrate how these figures should conduct themselves in the context of such funerals.

“It should further state that if one politician from one political party speaks then certainly those of other political parties should do likewise as long as they stick to the message of funeral.

“It is a fact that most of our political parties in Malawi do not have clear convincing ideologies and plans to move the country out of abject poverty, and as such they seize every funeral opportunity to symbolically show that they are human and caring when in actual fact they are not,” said Munthali.

He pointed out that in Malawi history some State funerals members of the opposition have been allowed to speak.

Born Walter John Hardy Gondwe, Themba la Mathemba Chikulamayembe succumbed to low blood pressure on Thursday last week aged 86.

May the soul of Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe rest in eternal peace.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
41 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ndatopa
ndatopa
5 years ago

zomwe mwachita adpp ndizomwe zinazetsa chisokonezo

ndale zophangila bas

kumbukilani kuti kunaliso komweko komwe kuna chokeraso downfall ya bingu

matela
matela
5 years ago

tingosintha andale asamabwere pa maliro

Lilian Kaunda
Lilian Kaunda
5 years ago

Stupid Malawians always think funerals are places where they can gain votes. The army is now being abused to bury every jim and jack with military honours. This nosense must stop.

Chidi Mbwengu
Chidi Mbwengu
5 years ago

Blame Jappie Mhango, Kenneth Sanga and Goodall Gondwe for secretly organizing this fracas. They also persuaded pitala to come to the funeral coz they thought if he stayed behind the center stage was going to be hijacked by opposition. Secretly that’s how these thieves will want to hijack the elections. Opposition keep your eyes open, the signs are on the wall!!

nkhamanga
nkhamanga
5 years ago

I was there at the funeral yesterday! look, our church was very pompous from the very start of the program. we saw it, the church never respect the government of the day as stipulated in the Bible they claim to follow! we congratulated the brave Chief principal Kawazamawe for restoring order when the church authority installed commotion! Kawazamawe grabbed the microphone from clergy! order was restored!

Kingmfumu
Kingmfumu
5 years ago

The Synod should come up with guidelines, for it’s Clegy, on how to conduct State Funerals. As in all cases, established protocol(s) should be observed for the sake of maintaining decorum.

Let us remain united and move forward, as a Country.

May the Soul of our departed Paramount Chief, Rest in Peace.

5 more months
5 more months
5 years ago

Church vs State, that was really awkward,

Ndatopa
Ndatopa
5 years ago

I have never seen anything like that, Mpaka kulandana microphone!!!! ……. I still can’t wrap my head around what I witnessed yesterday. I feel bad for the family

Papa Chalo
Papa Chalo
5 years ago

Congrats DPP. Its part of your land slide downfall. You will keep on making such silly blunders. Their big impacts will be seen in May, 2019. Inu simukudabwa why you are making these avoidable blunders? Kuseweretsa miyoyo ya anthu mathero ake ndi amenewo. Kusamva. Ndipo simunati mupwetekana nokhanokha.

Heavyduty
Heavyduty
5 years ago

“Mungazakawelezgangaso chara” What is this, nonsense and rubbish. Does the church have powers or mandate to impose or dictate who to speak or give eulogies on state functions? That was a state funeral (not msokhano wa chitsitsimutso) and the church’s task was to pray and preach but not making funeral program. Program making was state (Government) task not you fake pastors. In addition to this the deceased was a chief, part of government (under Ministry of Local Government) that’s why chiefs salaries comes from government not churches. It could be right for church to come up with programme if the… Read more »

Mmalawi
Mmalawi
5 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

Ndiye kunyadira usaavage wakowo. Shameful. 5 months you are out with your savegery

REMNANT
REMNANT
5 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

iwe ndiye stupid kwambiri wamva

nkhatabay
5 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

IWE CHI CADET CHOPUSA CHOPANDA NZERU

JJ Mbewe/pathfinder
JJ Mbewe/pathfinder
5 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

kkkkkkkkkkk heavy duty umandimvetsa kukoma kwabaasi. Asiye aziyekedwa chomwechi, tidzawathothola mosawamvera chisoni.

Read previous post:
Malawi Parliament rebuffs court on blocking NGO regulation law

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament  Esther Cheka Chilenje has said the  High Court order obtained by civils society organisations (CSOs)...

Close