By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, 2O October, Mana: Paramount Chief Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V of Ntcheu has described the late Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima and the late legendary music icon Soldier Lucius Banda as patriotic citizens of the country.

Gomani V made the remarks on Saturday at the end of Maseko Ngoni mourning period of the late State Vice President, Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima who was also Impi to Gomani V and the late legendary music icon Soldier Lucius Banda at a ceremony that took place at Nsipe Catholic Primary School ground in Ntcheu district. 

He commended the families of the late Chilima and the late Banda for accepting the Maseko Ngoni heritage request to organize a special day marking the end of the mourning period.

"The late Dr Saulos Chilima and Lucius Banda were patriotic, they loved their country and their culture and will always be remembered" he said. 

Gomani urged all the people to emulate the example set by the two departed souls.

State Vice President Dr Michael Bizwick Usi, Madame Mary Chilima and Madame Sunganani Banda together with various other political dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Nsipe Parish Priest, Father Atanazio Steve Manyenga said the ceremony is a true testimony that religion and culture are not in conflict, but rather complement each other.

Member of Parliament for Ntcheu West, Simion Salambula asked government to construct a musoleum for the late Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima.

He advised all UTM Party aspirants to bring unity amongst the members.

A representative of the Chilima family, Ana Sazuze commended the Maseko Ngoni heritage for organizing a special ceremony marking the end of the mourning period for their son who was also the State Vice President.

"The family salutes the Maseko Ngoni heritage because as Chilima family we had organized a ceremony after 40 days from his death, but the heritage organized a special period," said Sazuze.

On his part, a representative of the late Lucius Banda family, Elias Kamoto saluted the Maseko Ngoni heritage for the ceremony which has shown love and unity amongst the Maseko Ngoni.

"You stopped everything from June this year up to now in honour of Lucius Banda and the late State Vice President, we say thank you,' said Kamoto 

In July this year, Paramount Chief Gomani V cancelled the 2024 Umhlangano annual cultural event which was scheduled for 5 to 7 September in honour of the late VP and Lucius Banda.

The late Chilima died in a plane crash on 10 June, 2024 in Chikangawa forest in Mzimba district while Lucius Banda died on 30 June 2024 in South Africa.