By Nenenji Mlangeni
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, Malawi started a three day mourning for the departed souls due to Covid-19 more particularly two cabinet ministers (Sidik Mia and Lingisoni Belekanyama) who passed away on the same day. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
The nation was panic on Tuesday for the demise of the two including many deaths and cases reported on Covid-19.
But the subject matter is on the late Sidik Mia who was Malawi Congress Party (MCP) first Vice President, the main shareholder in Tonse administration led by Lazarus Chakwera.
The late Mia for starters sacrificed his energies, resources, monies to revive MCP political muscle from shameful defeat in opposition for more 26 years, loosing elections after elections.
The late Mbuya Mia’s financial muscle made MCP and Chakwera to be where they are now.
Only six months into leadership, the former Transport Minister succumbed to Covid-19 with little rewards of his sweat for MCP leadership in Malawi government. May God receive Mia’s soul.
What has surprised many is the leaked audio on how the late Mia remains buried without Tonse government and MCP representatives, even Chakwera sending condolence messages to the bereaved family as many expected to announce at the burial ceremony at Ngabu, Chikwawa, home village.
An audio in our possession communicating to the Muslim community in Malawi as the late Mia’s religion, has expressed sadness the way Chakwera with Tonse administration and MCP treated the late Mbuya’s remains.
“Immediately after death pronouncement in the morning of Tuesday, January 12, 2021, we spent about three hours at Queen Central Hospital without any MCP or Tonse government officials to be part of Muslim Jhadhi community which handled the whole burial ceremony.
“We expected traffic police officers to help clearing the road from hospital to the late’s house till home village Ngabu in Chakwera considering that Mia was a senior cabinet minister and MCP Vice President but nothing of that sort happened,” worried a Muslim brother in the audio.
He added, “Our hope was on our way from the late Mia house (Mudi, Blantyre) that police traffic officers could come in but nothing of that sort that we had to wait road signs (robots) for minutes with the remains of the senior cabinet minister until I used my vehicle to clear the road till at her home village at Ngabu.
“When we arrived at Ngabu for burial later in the evening, we also expected Malawi government and MCP officials to speak at the funeral where we spent till 7 pm but nothing happened when we just head that the head of state was speaking on radio. Was Mia really deserved this despite all his sacrifices to the leadership?
“With or without Covid-19, Mia deserved a better treatment of his burial not what this leadership has demonstrated. You mean the leadership could fail to be 100 meters away from the grave for his close friend who used his resources to put him where he is now?
“Malawians will always remember Sidik Mia for his fatherly heart to his Muslim community brothers and sisters and also to those in political circles. The nation has lost the asset that wishes others well in life”, says the concerned Muslim brother.
The Maravi Post understands that during the national address on Tuesday afternoon, Chakwera’s face showed not much groomy as expected even without mask on his mouth or carrying.
After the late Mia told the nation of his positive test to Covid-19, no Tonse government or MCP official wished him well even to visit him at the hospital to our knowledge.
But during the burial of MCP senior member Mayi Dinala, the party was all over despite Covid-19 measures. Did Mia deserve this?
Prior to his death, this paper carried an article in which Chakwera is said to have started grooming his trusted boy Eisenhower Mkaka Foreign Minister and MCP’s Secretary General to take over from him in 2025.
Are we reading too much on this that some are happy within MCP or Tonse as the main opponent is gone?
The nation is yet to hear Chakwera’s justification on Mia’s burial as Covid-19 continues striking hard the nation.
Mask up, Watch hands, social distancing and stay safe!!!
