By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, July 2, Mana: It was a sombre afternoon at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre on Tuesday as Vice President Dr. Michael Usi and thousands of people came to receive remains of a famous musician and politician, Lucius Banda.

Musicians such as Hilco, Sangie, Wycliffe Chimwendo, Leslie, Nepman among others also came along to receive the body of their fellow musician who was like a parent to most of the rising musicians.

UTM party members and others from other political parties, youths who called themselves Friends of Lucius Banda were also present waiting for his remains to arrive from South Africa where he died.

Member of Parliament for Mulanje Bale, Victor Musowa, who was also a friend of late Banda described him as a courageous person he has ever known in Malawi.

“I knew the late Lucius Banda long time ago and since then we have been friends that anytime when I wanted advice, I could go to him. Lucius was a friend I could joke with and he was the one who gave me encouragement to join politics,” added Musowa.

Songs like Tsopano taupeza moyo, Anali alendo pansipano, Muwalandile, were being sang by Catholic women at the airport as the crowd waited for the remains to arrive.

At exactly 3:09pm the body of the late Lucius Banda arrived at the airport as family, relatives and all that were there got emotionally touched and some were seen in tears.

Apart from the Vice President, UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati and other party members as well as Malawi Congress Party members were also present to receive the body of the fallen musician.

In their words family members, expressed sorrow over the death of Banda whom they described as family pillar and a humble person who loved the family, the poor and his country.

The family, therefore, asked for benefitting burial of their son saying Lucius did a lot to Malawi citing music development, youth empowerment and politics.