Inkosi ya Makosi Mbelwa IV who died Tuesday morning after a short illness will be buried Saturday at his headquarters of Edingeni in Mzimba district, northern Malawi.
The late top chief in the northern region will be accorded a state funeral as directed by President Joyce Banda who described the late Inkosi as a great son of Malawi.
On Thursday and Friday the body will lie in state at Edingeni for public viewing before burial on Saturday.
On Wednesday his body was taken to Mthuthama State Lodge where people from all walks of life came to pay their last respects.
The viewing ceremony started at around 10 AM in the morning when the Vice President Khumbo Kachali and wife arrived and was welcomed by cabinets ministers, party and senior government officials including Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda.
At around 11 AM Inkosi yamakosi Pherembe of Mzimba and Senior Chief Tsabango of Lilongwe led the people from the central region to pay their last respect to the paramount chief.
In his remarks Inkosi Pherembe described the late Inkosi Mbelwa as a father who loved his culture with passion.
“He was the one who installed me as chief and I am devastated by his death. We only hope that God is going to guide us as we mourn him,” said Inkosi Pherembe.
Senior chief Tsabango too said he was saddened by the death of Inkosi Mbelwa.
Born Zongendawa Jere in 1954, the Ngoni Chief was installed as Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa IV in February 1984 by Paramount Chief Mpezeni of Zambia at his home Village of Edingeni in Mzimba.
