By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, January 17, Mana; Director of Public Works (DPW) for Nkhata Bay District Council, George Gopani, has said construction of a mausoleum for Orton Chirwa at his home village Manolo in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri in Nkhata Bay will be finished in May this year.

Gopani said this on Thursday in an interview with Malawi News Agency in Nkhata Bay.

He said the mausoleum is being constructed with funds from the Malawi Government amounting to MK1.4 billion.

"We are constructing the mausoleum, four houses for family members, two staff houses, and a library. As you can see, it is a big project and we were supposed to finish it last year. However, due to other challenges, there has been an extension and we are expecting it to be finished in May this year," said Gopani.

"Construction of the mausoleum for late Chirwa who is one of the individuals who played a great role in the country's history is important for the preservation of his legacy and a potential tourist attraction," he added.

A niece to the late Chirwa, Dawila Bulukutu Chirwa said they are expecting the government to empower family members for them to be financially stable.

"We are thankful to government for the ongoing construction of the mausoleum and residential houses which will improve the living conditions of our family members who lost everything due to our exile in Tanzania," Chirwa said.

"Although government is constructing the mausoleum, our family was financially affected due to the exile and the death of our uncle while in prison. Therefore, we would also like government to consider empowering us financially so that we shouldn't be beggars while living in good houses," she added.

Orton Chirwa who was a lawyer and political leader was appointed Malawi's Minister of Justice and Attorney General in 1964. In 1992, he died in prison after spending nearly 11 years on death row.