LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu has described late former Reserve Bank Governor Chakakala Chaziya as true statesman and hero.
Kunkuyu said in an exclusive interview soon after presiding over the commemoration ceremony of late Chaziya who was also Minister of Finance in the area of Senior Chief Khongoni in Lilongwe which was organised by his son Lawrence Chaziya.
Kunkuyu said Chakakala Chaziya was a real asset.
“He was a great assest in Malawi. You know this country had strong foundations on which we built a strong education system, health, and agricultural sectors that resulted in a resilient economy in the past. There are people that the system trained who served and are serving this country diligently.
“Some of those are still alive while others are gone. Both need to be remembered and celebrated. One of them is late Chakakala Chaziya, who believed that the best service he could render to mankind was a service to his own country, Malawi,” he said.
It was all smiles on Saturday at Kamzimbi Full Primary School Ground in the area of Senior Chief Khongoni in Lilongwe.
This is home to former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor the late Chakakala Chaziya.
Speaking during the commemoration ceremony, Lawrence Chaziya, accompanied by Kunkuyu, described his father as very loving, caring , visionary, and brave.
He said he was the first person to addres a political rally in the central region, calling for regime change. He said his father wanted people in his area to access health services, quality education as well as social and economic empowerment.
He said, “This is why I am launching the Chaziya women Empowerment revolving fund which will see women forming groups and access soft loans from the fund”.
According to Chaziya, women empowerment is so important in the area.
Chaziya also announced that since his father wanted youth to live a good life, he will be launching a MK5 million Chaziya football trophy and MK2 million Chaziya Netbal trophy All this to benefit young people as per the vision of his father.
Chaziya also announced the formation of Chaziya vocational training centre where the young people will be learning the vocational skills.
Lawrence Chaziya also donated 20 bicycles meant to be given to young girls.
During the function, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Regional Chairman Patrick Zebron Chilondila commended Chaziya for organising the ceremony.
Chilondola said Lynold Chakakala Chaziya history can not be erased in Malawi history.
Senior Chief Khongoni, who was also in attendance, hailed Chaziya for the guesture.
Senior Chief Khongoni, who received 20 bicycles, said the bicycles will be distributed to hard-working young girls.
Lynold Chakakala Chaziya was born on 31st March 1947.
He is a Malawian statesman, economist, and politician who served as the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank/Reserve Bank of Malawi Governor under Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s MCP regime and also served as Board Chairperson of various parastatals/government agencies like OILCOM (the precursor of NOCMA), Limbe Leaf Tobacco Limited and various others.
With his first wife Anne Kafaiwala, he had three children, and these are Lawrence, Geoffrey, and Lynold Jr.
At the dawn of multi-party democracy in 1992, he came together with other former cabinet ministers of Dr. Banda’s era like Bakili Muluzi, Edward Chitsulo Bwanali and other willing Malawians to form a pressure group United Democratic Front (UDF) championing the return of Malawi to political party pluralism as was the case in the 1960s.
He was its First Vice Chairman with Dr. George Afawaka Mkandawire as Second Vice Chairman and Bakili Muluzi as its Chairman.
The grouping could not be called a political party then as Malawi was a one-party state, and thus, the constitution was only recognising the existence of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
Later, the UDF was to form the new government in a new multi-party era in 1994 United Democratic Front.