Tag Archives: Clement Chiwaya

Former Malawi deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya shot himself over vehicle’s change of ownership

2021-10-01 Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Parliament has disclosed that the former Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Clement Chiwaya killed himself over ‘change of ownership’ for a vehicle he bought from the National Assembly at the end of his tenure in 2019.

Chiwaya died on Thursday morning, September 30, 2021 after shooting himself with a pistol in front of the Clerk of Parliament, Fiona Kalemba.

This publication understands that former Mangochi Central Constituency legislator bought the vehicle as one of his entitlements for serving the National Assembly.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Assistant Clerk of Parliament (Protocol and Public Relations Officer), Ian Mwenye, said Chiwaya was entitled to various benefits, which Parliament disbursed for the 2014 to 2019 Parliamentary Term.

In addition, the Public is further informed that all other benefits which Hon. Chiwaya and other former Political Leadership were entitled to were being honoured, added Mwenye.

“The public may wish to note that the former Political Leadership namely the Leader of Opposition (His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera) Speaker of Parliament (Rt. Hon. Richard Msowoya), the two Deputy Speakers (Hon. Mcheka Chilenje and Hon. Clement Chiwaya) were eligible to buy official vehicles. Parliament released the vehicles to the Political Leadership pending conclusion of change of ownership, and at the time, all the vehicles were comprehensively insured,” reads part of the statement.

He further said that Chiwaya was involved in an accident while using his purchased vehicle and since the comprehensive insurance had expired at the time of the accident, the deceased made a number of requests to the Parliament Secretariat to remedy his situation.

“While Parliament was working on the matter, Chiwaya approached the Attorney General who gave his opinion to the former Second Deputy Speaker and Parliament. Having considered the opinion of the Attorney General, Chiwaya took the matter to the Commercial Court, and before conclusion of the Commercial Court matter, further took the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman who determined the matter in his favour.

“However, since the matter was also in the Commercial Court, the Ombudsman’s determination was set aside by the High Court. The matter in the Commercial Court has not been concluded to date. The public is assured that Parliament has the prerequisite equipment and security protocol for all visitors to the Parliament Building. Having been a person with a disability, the scanner alerts were deemed to be from the wheelchair,” said Mwenye.

He said since the Malawi Police Service is handling the matter, and at an appropriate time, the Public will be updated accordingly.

In his suicide note, Chiwaya bitterly complained about the unfair treatment from Parliament.

He alleged that the staff at the Parliament did not value him because he had a disability.

Burial for Chiwaya will be made available to the public.

But his death has sent a very bad signal on escalation of mental health in Malawi.

Law and order, Lifestyle

Former Malawi deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya shoots himself at Parliament building

2021-09-30 Lloyd M’bwana

Updated:

It is now confirmed Mr Clement Chiwaya has died.

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Disturbing! Former Deputy Speaker of Malawi Parliament Clement Chiwaya has shot himself in the head with a pistol at parliament building in the capital Lilongwe on.

Chiwaya shot himself on Thursday morning, September 30, 2021 right in front of the Clerk of Parliament, Fiona Kalemba.

Spokesperson for Parliament Ian Mwenye confirmed the incident describing as an unfortunate.

“We have since reported the matter to police. They are better placed to give more details,” Mwenye said.

Before he shot he wrote this message;

To all those of you that would question why? Don’t. Here is my explanation:

In my whole life I have worked very hard to ensure that I am self sufficient and I don’t rely on others for anything. My experience with parliament has been very bad. I am not a violent person. While it would have been easier to hurt others with the means I have, I don’t want that to be my legacy.

My heart and spirit has been brought down not because of the possession such as a vehicle but the persistent begging that I am doing to get what belongs to me. Is this life worth living. Probably yes to others. For me the fact that I have taken the issue to various people and I am forced to be begging them to do something is really depressing. I don’t have any more energy to carry on. Many of you will not forgive me but I am down. I have reached the end of my tether.

If I continue living I will hurt others and I don’t want that to happen I am already suffering from my post polio syndrome which is getting worse everyday. Compounded by this these people think I am asking for charity and yet this is a vehicle I bought with my own money.

I love my wife Sullea she has given me the best 11 years or so since I made a choice to live with her. We have seen ups and downs and she is my pillar in times of hurt like this. Yes we had plans to wed in December. Ring or no ring you gave me the best days. I love my children Bhubhile Sandra Crecencia Caleb and Clement Jr.

I really want to apologize to them for the pain I will bring to them. My fear is if I continue living I will hurt others especially the people that have decided to make my life miserable that way my family will be ostracized. I am going to Parliament and do this to make a statement that I know they are doing this because I am disabled and they don’t value me.

I would like to thank Martha Chizuma as Oumbsdsman because she saw the injustice and also judges at the Commercial court for their part in trying to see this come to an end. Parliament feels they have the audacity to deny me what belongs to me and I have to go and beg them. I have had enough of that.

With a fully loaded gun I could have killed these people but I will go alone. Let them prevail. I want everything that I have to be enjoyed by my mum my wife and my kids mentioned above. I am going with a free mind. Sullea I will always love you even in my death. Apiti Jana tuchisimana. I love you mum

Chiwaya apology to Parents in US

To my mum and dad in US and to all my friends I will always value the support you gave me through and through. We will meet on the other side.

Clement Chiwaya, who moved in a wheelchair, had gone to the building on Thursday to discuss vehicle benefits entitled to him when he left office two years ago.

Parliament “regrets to inform the public that the former deputy speaker … committed suicide at the parliament building,” it said in a statement.

“The incident is in relation to frustration with the implementation of his conditions of service.”

Chiwaya, who was 50, bought his official vehicle at the end of his five-year term in 2019, as provided for in his contract. But he had tried to get parliament to pay for damages incurred in an accident that happened six months later.

“Honorable Chiwaya was involved in an accident while using his purchased vehicle. Unfortunately, the comprehensive insurance had expired at the time of the accident,” the parliament’s statement said.

Police spokesperson James Kadadzera confirmed Thursday’s incident but refused to give details until he had received a full report from investigators.

The statement from parliament appeared to suggest that Chiwaya had secretly brought a gun into the high-security building.

“Having been a person with a disability, the [security] scanner alerts were deemed to be from the wheelchair,” the statement said.

“Following the incident, parliament will enhance security measures for all categories of visitors to the Parliament building.”

Message from Atupele

Atupele Muluzi writes on Facebook, The death of Hon. Dr. Clement Chiwaya has shocked all of us. We are waiting for an official report to shed more details on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident at Parliament today. At this time let us pay solemn homage to one of Malawi’s finest sons.

Against all odds that life had presented, Dr. Clement Chiwaya rose to become a senior member of our National Executive, Member of Parliament for over 15 years, successful businessman, former Cabinet Minister and former Deputy Speaker of our National Assembly. He was intelligent, a loyal friend, advisor, a family man and devoted to his faith. My condolences go to his family during this tragic time and we pray that the almighty comforts them.

May you rest well Brother, and untill we meet again. MHSRIP

More to come!!!. on Malawi Politician Chiwaya shoots himself at parliament building

Politics

Former Speaker Katsonga gets one week ban from Parliament for defying dress code

2017-05-18 Maravi Post correspondent

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The former Speaker of Malawi Parliament Davis Katsonga, was on Wednesday banned from the Parliament proceeding for one week after he defied the august House’s dress code.

Katsonga, who is also the lawmaker for Mwanza Central, on Tuesday walked out of the chamber in protest against the Second Speaker Clement Chiwaya’s verdict that the cultural headgear is not allowed in the house.

The former speaker’s protest coincided with Chiwaya’s revoking of the Standing Order 105 for the latter to leave the House and come back on Wednesday.

Surprisingly, Katsonga came back into the House chambers ?on Wednesday afternoon, wearing the same Ngoni culture headgear, which prompted Lilongwe North East legislator Maxwell, to plead for Chiwaya to assert his decision.

Thyolera, who is also Parliamentary Legal Affairs Chairperson, said he was surprised to see the member back into the House in the same attire which he had been told not wear while attending Parliament proceedings.

“Mr. Second Deputy Speaker Sir, yesterday (Tuesday) you advised an hourable member about the dress code for this Hiuse, and you directed that if any member has an issue with the dress code, they can report the same to the Legal Affairs Committee,” Thyolera said.

“But, to our surprise the hourable member is back in the House in the same attire. Is it in order for the member to do that?” Thyolera queried.

The Deputy Speaker Chiwaya equally shared the same observation with Thyolera, noting that Katsonga’s behavior was tantamount to indiscipline and required disciplinary action for defying the House’s dress code.

“Him being a former Speaker, is supposed to be exemplary. It’s for this reason, I am invoking Section 105 that the hourable member should not attend proceedings for one week,” ruled Chiwaya.

Eventually, Katsonga left the chamber amid “Bayethe Nkosi” (respect to king) chats from some members who on Tuesday, had defended the cultural headgear. They had argued that as an Impi of the Maseko Ngonis’ Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, he was supposed to put the headgear on it all the time.

The Maravi Post