State House vigil for Mbelwa puts President Banda under pressure of precedence

According to the program, a vigil for the funeral of Inkosi Mmbelwa is taking place at Mtunthama Residence (state house) where his remains will lay in state and will be viewed today.

It has been understood that this arrangement follows the fact that Vice President Khumbo Kachali comes right from the headquarters of the fallen chief, and being like a son to the chief he has provided his official house which is Mtunthama for mourning his “father”

From a simplistic point of view this makes sense, except that when looked at from the broader sense, regard being had to all considerations, the gesture puts in place a precedent that may back fire on the political establishment that is the PP administration.

Granted, the act of having the remains of Mmbelwa at state house has been influenced by humanitarian considerations, unfortunately however the undertones are such that they have placed an expectation hanging over the PP administration that should another chief of such esteem pass on his remains will also lie in state at State House.

The humanitarian aspect to the decision of mourning Mmbelwa is not the official position although true. And that is what will put the PP administration to a corner because what has happened is on surface an adhoc declaration of a position that will have to obtain in similar circumstances.

We wonder how much thought was allowed to precede the decision of conducting a funeral vigil at state house, and it is also worth interrogating into whether in that thinking consideration was made available to whether what has been started will be sustained in an occasion of a similar event.

It stands to reason to think that before the decision was made regard was also given to the possibility of a chief dying who does not enjoy proximity to any of the members of the Presidency or indeed the PP establishment, and how that funeral, should it take place (God forbid), should be treated.

There are decisions that are made in the spur of the moment and appear good when regarded from a single lane, but which leave behind a sting with poisonous implications when the glare of view broadens.

By allowing what has happened to happen, President Banda has entangled herself in a circumstance of expectation which places almost an obligation on her to make available treatment similar to late Mmbelwa to another chief of similar stature should he or she die.

One can only hope that that chief will be neighborly in terms of social proximity and politically correct, because, as it were, not all chiefs of Mmbelwa’s standing are in comfort with this administration. Otherwise to treat a similar matter differently will have wide implications on the leadership of Amayi, with tribal undertones play out loudly.