The family of the late Saulos Klaus Chilima, former Vice President of Malawi, is set to launch the SKC Foundation in his honor this Wednesday in Lilongwe. According to the family, the foundation aims to continue Chilima’s honourable legacy of public service and community upliftment.
Chilima, who passed away last year in plane crash, stirred a wave of conspiracies surrounding his death, with accusations directed towards President Lazarus Chakwera and officials from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of negligence and orchestration. However, multiple inquiries have since dismissed these allegations, leaving many in the opposition political arena frustrated yet undeterred in their attempts to politicize his demise.
At the funeral ceremony held in Ntcheu, Mr. Ben Chilima who spoke on behalf of the family urged political factions, specifically the United Transformation Movement (UTM), to respect the family’s grief and refrain from engaging the late vice president’s widow, Mary Chilima, in political discussions. “This is a time of mourning for our family, and we ask that you do not bother my sister-in-law with political talks,” he stressed.
Despite attempts to create a narrative of hostility towards the sitting President, Mary Chilima has invited President Chakwera to the foundation’s launch, signaling a stance of unity and respect for the official relationship that her late husband enjoyed with President Chakwera.
State House Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda confirmed President Chakwera’s acceptance of the invitation, stating, “the President commends the Chilima family for their efforts in launching the foundation and believes that it stands as a tribute to a dedicated public servant.”
