At exactly 1:45 pm, the somber moment of truth arrived as the casket carrying the late Vice President Saulosi Chilima was lowered into the grave.
Thousands of mourners gathered to bid their final farewell to a leader who had tragically perished in a plane crash on June 10th, along with eight others, in the Chikangawa forest.
As a devouted Catholic, Chilima was laid to rest with dignity, following a series of church masses held in his honor.
The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) paid their respects with 19 gun shots, a fitting tribute to the fallen hero.
In a poignant moment, the Malawian flag that draped the coffin was presented to Chilima’s wife, Mary, in recognition of his dedicated service to the nation.
International dignitaries, cabinet ministers, and top other officials, including President Lazarus Chakwera and former President Peter Mutharika, paid their respects by laying wreaths at the graveside.
In his eulogy, Dr. Ben Chilima, the late Vice President’s brother, made an emotional appeal to President Chakwera to establish a special memorial in Chikangawa to honor the memory of his brother and the others who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash.
The mourners bowed their heads in respect, remembering the life and legacy of Saulosi Chilima, a leader who had touched the hearts of many.
