Mutharika shun Chakuamba’s burial ceremony in Nsanje, opt for Mulhakho on Sunday

Thousands of Malawians have today ignored the hot weather in the Southern District of Nsanje to witness the burial of veteran politician Gwanda Chakuamba, former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President.

Among the notables faces that have graced the funeral ceremony of late Chakuamba at Chinyanje Village includes: former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi, MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, John Tembo, Moses Dossi, Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Mcheka Chilenje Nkhoma and some Cabinet Ministers.

Although this is the case, President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is not among well-known figures that have graced the burial ceremony despite directing it to be a state funeral.

Instead President Mutharika has sent Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr. George Chaponda to represent him at the funeral.

On Wednesday Malawians especially those on Facebook criticized government for not sending any representative at College of Medicine when the body of Chakuamba was being collected to Comesa Hall for viewing.

As this was not enough, Malawians were shocked to see Chakuamba’s body being carried an ordinary hearse.

Besides this, no government official was available at Comesa Hall to lead Malawians paying homage to late Chakuamba and instead former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi did it on behalf of government.

When asked as to why no official government was available at Comesa Hall, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Malisoni Ndau expressed surprise on the matter.

Ndau, however, said a number of ministers including Foreign Affairs Minister, Francis Kasaila, had already been to the village of the veteran politician adding that government was making all necessary preparations to send a delegation.

Chakuamba died on Monday at Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in the commercial capital Blantyre after a long illness.