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| National |
| Government, Aford clash over Chihana burial site |
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by
Edward Nyirenda, 15 June 2006
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05:59:35
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Government has rejected a request by the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) to have the body of the late Chakufwa Chihana buried alongside Dr. Kamuzu Banda’s in Lilongwe, the party’s national chairman Chipimpha Mughogho said Wednesday.
Mughogho said instead of burying the fallen Aford leader at the “Heroes’ Acre”, government said Chihana should be buried in the Northern Region.
“Government said Chihana can’t be buried [in Lilongwe] because that place has not yet been officially declared as a heroes’ acre, something I am failing to understand because we have been calling that place a hero’s park throughout,” he said.
Mughogho felt Chihana deserved to be accorded the honour Kamuzu received because of his involvement in the struggle for multiparty democracy in the country.
“Who is a hero, if I may ask? Kamuzu was a hero because he fought the colonial rulers. Chihana fought hard to end Kamuzu’s dictatorship and definitely that puts him in the category of heroes and he deserves to be rested there. So, I don’t know what government is talking about,” charged Mughogho.
He added: “Since they have taken that position, we will happily bury him here in the North. Chihana is our son.”
Government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati, while confirming receiving a request from Aford on the issue, said government rejected the idea because the place has not yet been designated as a resting place for heroes.
“What we told them that Kamuzu’s resting place hasn’t been officially declared as a heroes’ acre. There are a number of heroes that we are looking into and when we come up with their names, we will put them in one place and Chihana’s remains may be transferred there. So it’s too early for them to start getting worried,” said Kaliati.
Chancellor College political scientist Blessings Chinsinga said Chihana deserves a place at the Heroes’s Acre because he was the first person to publicly stand up against Kamuzu’s oppressive regime and played a crucial role in the country’s transition to multiparty politics.
“In spite of his shortfalls, Chihana has remained a symbol of transition from one party to multiparty system of government,” said Chinsinga.
Added Chinsinga: “I think government does not want to accord him the honour because that would play a critical role in revamping Aford, especially in the North when you consider that DPP is having problems in the region. So, people trying to revive Aford to regain its lost glory in the region might cash on that.”
Efforts to talk to Chihana’s children who, according to Aford Publicity Secretary Norman Nyirenda, are the ones mandated to speak for the bereaved family, proved futile as both Enock and Yeremiah were reported to be in South Africa.
Chihana’s daughter in-law Loveness Gondwe could not comment on the issue as she was in a meeting at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) finalising Chihana’s funeral arrangements.
The Association for Dialogue and Reconciliation (Adar), a human rights and democracy organisation, said Wednesday owing to Chihana’s contribution to the country’s fight for democracy, it is proper to bury him at the Heroes’ Acre.
“The [late Banda and Chihana] cannot be separated in Malawi’s history of multiparty democracy and development. They both closed their eyes at the same Garden City Clinic in South Africa...This can be symbolic. Let us not separate the two. They should rest together at the Heroes Acre.
“Any right thinking person will tell you that Chihana is a hero. Malawi needs to reflect on the contributions some people have made to the country and accord them the honour they deserve,” argued Julian Mhoni, Executive Director for Adar.
According to Mughogho, Chihana’s resting place at Katoto in Mzuzu has been agreed upon after consultation with family members and the church as the befitting place to bury the remains of the country’s former Second Vice-President.
Chihana died on Monday morning at Garden City Clinic in South Africa where he underwent a brain surgery on May 18.
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