The recent tragic death of Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima has led to a national outpouring of grief, with many public figures attending funeral events to pay their respects.
However, the conspicuous absence of immediate former President Peter Mutharika has ignited a heated debate among political analysts and social commentators.
Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash along with eight others in the northern highlands of Chikangawa on Monday, was a significant figure in Malawi’s political landscape.
His untimely death has drawn attention from all corners of the nation, with former presidents Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda making appearances at funeral homes in Lilongwe to honor his memory.
Political analyst Undule Mwakasungula expressed disappointment over Mutharika’s absence, criticizing the former president for not being more proactive.
“As a statesman and former head of state, Mutharika should have been present to show leadership and respect during this tragic time,” Mwakasungula said.
He highlighted the close political relationship between Chilima and Mutharika, noting that Chilima had learned much from the former president.
“It’s disheartening that Mutharika is not taking an active role in these national events.”
Saulos Klaus Chilima served under Peter Mutharika as vice president from 2014 to 2019.
They had a public fallout when Chilima started his own political party, the United Transformation Movement.
In contrast, social commentator Wonderful Mkutche advised against reading too much into Mutharika’s absence.
“Mutharika has a known pattern of not attending funerals. We should not interpret his absence as anything significant. I believe he will attend the burial ceremony,” Mkutche stated, suggesting that Mutharika’s behavior is consistent with his past actions.
In lieu of his physical presence, Mutharika issued a statement through Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba.
The statement called for unity and strength in the face of this national tragedy.
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“May the entire nation find strength and comfort in unity as we mourn the lives of our true sons and daughters. May the memories of the departed inspire us all,” the statement read.
The absence of Mutharika has not gone unnoticed by the public.
Many Malawians have taken to social media to express their opinions, with reactions ranging from understanding to outright criticism.
Some citizens feel that as a former president, Mutharika should set an example by being visibly supportive during national crises, while others agree with Mkutche, arguing that personal choices about attending funerals should not be overly scrutinized.
The presence of former presidents Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda at the funeral events has further highlighted Mutharika’s absence.
Muluzi, whose former wife Shanil Dzimbiri also died in the crash, and Banda have both been seen paying their respects, demonstrating their solidarity with the grieving nation.
Their actions have been widely praised, adding to the pressure on Mutharika to make a public appearance.
As the nation continues to mourn the loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima, the debate over Peter Mutharika’s absence from the funeral events underscores the complexities of public expectations for former leaders.
Whether or not Mutharika’s eventual attendance at the burial will satisfy those expectations remains to be seen.
For now, his statement of unity serves as his primary contribution to the national mourning process, though it has not fully quelled the disappointment expressed by some Malawians.
