President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has declared Monday, June 17, 2024, a public holiday across Malawi to allow the nation to pay its last respects to the late Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
Chilima tragically lost his life in a plane crash earlier this month and will be laid to rest at his home village in Ntcheu District.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu, during a press briefing at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe on Saturday.
“Monday, 17th June, is a holiday which has been declared to give everyone a chance to pay their respects to the late Vice-President Chilima,” Kunkuyu stated, underscoring the significance of the day for the entire nation.
President Chakwera will lead Malawians in a public memorial service on Sunday at the Bingu National Stadium, where the life and legacy of Vice-President Chilima will be honored. The ceremony is expected to be attended by a diverse array of international delegates from Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, and other countries, reflecting Chilima’s wide-reaching influence and the global condolences extended to Malawi during this time of grief.
The late Vice-President Saulos Chilima was en route to attend the burial ceremony of former Minister of Justice and prominent lawyer Raphael Kasambara in Nkhata Bay on Monday, June 10, 2024, when tragedy struck. Due to adverse weather conditions, the military plane carrying Chilima and eight others was unable to land at Mzuzu Airport and subsequently crashed near Chikangawa Forest on its return to Lilongwe. The crash claimed the lives of all on board, leaving the nation in deep sorrow.
The government of Malawi has urged all citizens to participate in the memorial events and to take the time to reflect on the late president’s legacy.
Chilima’s funeral will be conducted by the Roman Catholic Church Dedza Diocese, who will lead the burial ceremony in his home village.
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