A burial ceremony has been held today for Tumbuka Paramount Chief Themba la ma Themba Chikulamayembe at his home village Bolero in Rumphi district.
Thousands of people including President Peter Mutharika, his deputy Saulos Chilima and Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Principal Group Village Headman Kawazamawe who spoke on behalf of the family thanked government for helping the family when the chief was sick and during the funeral.
“We are thankful to the government for helping the family trying to save life of our chief, and we are also thankful to all those who have come to mourn with us, people like Vice president of Malawi Hon Saulos Chilima, Atupele Muluzi, MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera and others,” said Kawazamawe.
He added by asking government to name a road or building after the departed chief so that people should always remember him.
Speaking on behalf of the president, Local Government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said the late chief was Mutharika’s friend hence the president was too grief stricken to speak.
Nankhumwa added that the government supported the Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe’s family after being told that the chief was ill.
“Government through my ministry did everything in order to save the life of our Chief, we managed to take him to Mzuzu Central hospital but unfortunately we lost him,” said Nankhumwa.
The minister also noted that 14 chiefs have died in Malawi since January this year
He then thank late Chikulamayembe for his heart of promoting Tumbuka culture.
On succession, Nankhumwa urged the family to peacefully choose the next chief and not to end up taking the chieftainship issue to court since it takes time for such issues to be resolved.
Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, who was born Walter John Hardy Gondwe, died around 9:00pm on Thursday the 29th November 2018 at Mzuzu Central hospital.
He was born on 24th March 1932 and was installed as Traditional Authority in 1978. He is survived by a wife, 5 children and 12 grandchildren.
