Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was joined by the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera, and Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, as they gathered with hundreds of mourners on Thursday at Lingadzi CCAP in the capital city of Lilongwe to pay their respects at the funeral of business tycoon and philanthropist Mathew Eliazer Khondowe, who passed away on Tuesday this week.
During his condolence message, President Chakwera described Khondowe as a shining example of a philanthropist.
He highlighted Khondowe’s immense contribution to the development of Malawi’s economy, particularly in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure. The President also praised Khondowe’s selfless commitment to improving the lives of Malawians through his various charitable initiatives.
“He was a humble man, and one who helped people and his country, with his wealth,” said President Chakwera adding that to the country, Khondowe should be a seed that will multiply and bear more good fruits.
The CCAP Nkhoma Synod, through Reverend D. F. Zembeni also paid tribute to Khondowe, describing him as a generous and compassionate person who touched the lives of many in the Synod. He expressed his condolences to the Khondowe family and urged them to take comfort in the fact that their loved one had left a positive impact on society.
Khondowe became famous in the 80s to the 90s as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was born in the year 1932 on April 27, and he died just a week before his 91st birthday.
One of the high-rising buildings in the Capital Lilongwe, Kang’ombe, was the tallest structure in the city for a long time. Khondowe also built the Kalikuti Hotel in Lilongwe and contributed significantly to the development of Malawi.
The funeral was attended by a wide range of dignitaries, including government officials, business leaders, and members of the public. It was a fitting tribute to a man who had made such a significant contribution to Malawi’s development and who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
