By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, February 28, Mana: Hundreds of people on Tuesday gathered at Chiponde Village in Likoma to witness the burial ceremony of acting Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Mwase who succumbed to esophageal cancer.

Speaking during the ceremony, a family representative Wycliffe Masoo said the family is saddened by the death of Mwase whom the family depended on.

“As family members, we are saddened by the death of our relative whom we all depended on, and we were expecting government to install him as STA this coming March. It is sad that he has been on acting capacity just for one year and some few months,” said Masoo.

He said the late chief, born John Khunie, died at his home village on Friday at the age of 62, and he is survived by a wife, eight children and five grandchildren.

District Commissioner for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, said the district has lost a developmental conscious man who sacrificed himself by offering land for construction of various projects in his area.

“We have lost someone who was keen on development activities. For instance, he offered land in his area where a jetty is being constructed and another land where a health Centre is also being constructed. He will be missed a lot for his gesture; he was a good man,” said Nkhoma.

He said President Lazarus Chakwera had already approved Khunie’s nomination last year in December to be STA for the district, saying only tentative dates for the installation remained.

Nkhoma then asked family members to avoid conflicts when it comes to choosing someone from the family members who will replace late Khunie in order to maintain peace.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma, Ashems Songwe, said Chakwera is saddened by the demise of Khunie.

“The President and our Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture are all shocked with the death of Khunie because the Minister was expecting to come for the installation of Khunie in March this year after the President approved his name,” said Songwe.

He said the President and the Minister condoled the bereaved family with K500,000 and K100,000 respectively.

The installation ceremony for the late STA was slated for March 2024, following the death of his predecessor in 2022.