Widow Mary Chilima has called for the creation of a museum and a national remembrance day for late Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Speaking during the unveiling of Chilima’s mausoleum at Nsipe in Ntcheu, Mary said remembering the former Vice President should go beyond annual memorials and said the country should preserve his legacy and inspire future generations through his life of service.
“Perhaps we should request the leadership to consider establishing a museum in honour of Chilima, and if possible, designate a special day to remember him,” she said.
She urged Malawians to celebrate Chilima’s life through charity and voluntary service, saying helping others would be the best way to keep his values alive.
Mary also revealed that her husband drew his strength from a deep prayer life, which enabled him to remain calm even in the face of political battles and personal attacks.
“Many people wonder why he always remained calm, even when he faced all kinds of challenges. But the simple answer is that he was a man of prayer,” she said.
According to Mary, Chilima regularly woke up at 3:00 a.m. to pray and fast. She recalled joining him in a three-day Esther Fast before the 2019 elections, saying he always entrusted his struggles to God.
She described the late Vice President as hardworking, humble and resilient, saying he endured political isolation, insults and even arrest without giving up.
“In politics, he was sidelined. He was insulted and even arrested, yet he never stopped persevering,” she said.
Mary also thanked Malawians and various institutions for standing with the family through their grief, saying the love, prayers and solidarity they have received continue to give them strength.
She further expressed gratitude to President Peter Mutharika for ordering a fresh inquiry into the plane crash that claimed Chilima’s life, saying the family and the nation look forward to knowing the truth.
