By Tawonga Moyo

Mzuzu, June 10, Mana: Body of late prominent lawyer, Ralph Kasambara who succumbed to heart failure, was buried on Monday with military honours at his home Village, Chijere in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri in Nkhata Bay district.

Kasambara, who once served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General under the administration of former President Dr Joyce Banda, was found dead at a lodge in area 47 in Lilongwe on Friday.

In his eulogy, Minister of Defense, Harry Mkandawire who represented President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, said the president was deeply saddened by the death of Kasambara as his work in the country cannot go unnoticed.

"The president acknowledges that Kasambara was a freedom fighter. He nurtured fellow lawyers and worked tremendously in the country's judicial field and for that reason, he requested that I tell the MDF to bring his body here and accord him full military honours.

"Ralph had the opportunity to join politics if he had wanted to but chose to pursue law as he had a passion to ensure things in the country run through the law's order. The president has thus given K5 million as a condolence to the family," said Mkandawire.

Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay North, Ephraime Mganda Chiume said the constituency has lost a person of value who contributed greatly to the development of Nkhata Bay district and the country at large.

"We have lost a book of knowledge, a man of development and the multitude that came here to bid farewell to him is evidence of his great work. As a constituency, we were proud to have a lawyer as dedicated as him who did a lot for us. He built us a secondary school as he had a passion for education," said Chiume.

Supreme Court Justice, Dingiswayo Madise who represented the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, said the late Kasambara made a name for himself through his great work.

"The Chief Justice is very sorrowful on the demise of the Senior Counsel Kasambara. For a lawyer to be known, it is through the wars that are fought at the court. We are sad to have lost one of our own," said Madise.

Malawi Law Society representative, Victory Gondwe described the late Kasambara as a hard worker and advocate for constitutional order and rights for all.

"We honour the life and legacy of Ralph whose unwavering commitment for justice is evident in his deeds. He was a voice for those who needed a voice and used the law and constitutional order to advocate rights for all. He has challenged us to be champions of progress by the law. He did his part for us to enjoy our political rights," said Gondwe.

Representative of the bereaved family, Ben Chirwa Kasambara said as a family, they had lost a pillar who was a great help to the family and the nation at large.

"I want to thank everyone for coming despite the rainy weather. As a family, we are saddened and deeply affected as Ralph was helping the family and the nation," said Kasambara.

Former Attorney General, Kalekeni Kaphale said Kasambara was not an ordinary man in the legal framework as he was an example which his fellow lawyers emulated.

"He was a leader who set the pace for us to follow. He taught us to love God and help those in need. Let's follow his example. He will forever remain in our hearts as one of the gifted sons of Malawi," Kaphale said.

Senior Chief Timbiri thanked President Dr Lazarus Chakwera for the respect accorded to late Kasambara, saying that was proof that the late Kasambara was not an ordinary man.

"It's not easy for one to attain the kind of education that Ralph did. We are thankful to the President for the respect that has been accorded to him and this is proof that he wasn't an ordinary man," he said.

Born on 26 September 1968, the late Kasambara is survived by a wife and three sons.

Notable people at the funeral ceremony included Former Vice President Khumbo Hastings Kachali, member of parliament for Mzuzu City Bennex Mwamlima, Alliance for Democracy president Enock Chihana, Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng`oma and People`s Transformation Party (Petra) president, Kamuzu Chibambo, among others.

Vice President Saulos Chilima’s program to attend the funeral ceremony was cancelled at an eleventh hour as the plane carrying him failed to land at Mzuzu airport due to harsh weather.