By Dorica Mtenje
LILONGWE (MaraviPost): National Development Party (NDP) leader Frank Mwenifumbo has said he chose to attend the memorial service of the late Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima held at his tombstone in Ntcheu, in accordance with Malawian cultural tradition known as Chiliza.
In an interview with Maravipost on Tuesday June 10th,Mwenifumbo emphasized the importance of standing with the bereaved family during such commemorative events.
“Traditionally, we do Chiliza memorial services with the bereaved family. It was important for me to be at Saulos’ resting place where the entire family and many of his friends were gathered,” said Mwenifumbo.
He described Chilima as a personal friend, stating that attending the ceremony was not just a political gesture but a personal obligation.
“This was not a political appearance — it was a must-attend event because Chilima was a personal friend,” he said.
Mwenifumbo noted that several political figures and citizens from various sectors were present at the ceremony, with the notable exception of members from the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who were absent from the Ntcheu gathering.
Meanwhile, President Lazarus Chakwera and other government officials, along with families of the other eight individuals who perished in the tragic plane crash on June 10, 2024, attended a separate memorial service held at Nkhungwa.
United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Atupele Muluzi was also in attendance at the Nkhungwa event.
Today marks exactly one year since the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Chilima and eight others, sending shockwaves across the nation and beyond.
