Preparations for a national memorial honouring former Vice President and UTM leader Saulos Chilima have entered the final stage, with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leadership excluded over fears their presence could trigger unrest.
UTM is expected to hold the memorial ceremony on Saturday, June 13, with the party spokesperson Felix Njawala saying all arrangements for the commemoration will be finalized on Friday.
The day will begin with a church mass at Nsipe, followed by a family memorial service and the official unveiling of Chilima’s mausoleum.
Later, UTM supporters, friends and members of the public will gather at Ntcheu Stadium for celebrations aimed at honouring the late leader’s legacy.
However, the party has barred MCP leaders from attending, arguing that emotions surrounding Chilima’s death remain raw and that their presence could overshadow the occasion.
Speaking to Times Group recently, Njawala said many UTM members still have unanswered questions about the circumstances of the plane crash and fear the event could be disrupted by booing or accusations
.
“We have many questions about Chilima’s death and party members still view them with a different eye. We do not want situations that may disturb the ceremony,” he said.
Njawala said the decision was not driven by hatred but by a desire to preserve the dignity of the memorial.
“We forgive and have forgiven each other, but people’s hearts are still bleeding. We want this memorial to maintain respect for the person we are celebrating,” he said.
He clarified that the restriction applies only to MCP leaders and that ordinary party supporters remain free to attend the memorial.
Njawala also accused some MCP leaders of insulting Chilima at political rallies despite the role he played in helping return the party to government after 31 years in opposition.
Chilima died alongside eight others on June 10, 2024, when the military aircraft they were travelling in crashed in Chikangawa while en route to the funeral of former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara.
