Four people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when a car ducked the funeral procession of Malawi VP Saulos Chilima and rammed into mourners.
Four People Killed At The Funeral Procession Of Malawi VP Saulos Chilima
The car swerved to avoid the convoy carrying the body of Malawi’s late Vice-President and hit mourners. Witnesses say twelve others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in hospital.
The horror crash happened on Sunday night as the convoy made its way from the capital, Lilongwe, to Chilima’s home village in Ntcheu for his burial.
The vice president died in a plane crash on 10 June.
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The funeral procession turned violent as local people clashed with police and soldiers escorting the convoy. Some mourners hurled rocks at government vehicles, demanding the procession stop so they could see the coffin. In the chaos, a privately owned car veered off the road and ploughed into a group of mourners.
Chilima’s UTM party spokesperson Felix Njawala said:
“In Dedza, people blocked the road and demanded to see the coffin.
Clashes And Chaos
Patricia Kaliati, UTM’s secretary general, condemned the violence and urged supporters to stay peaceful:
“We cannot tolerate violence; Dr Chilima advocated for peace; let us do the same.”
Chilima, 51, was buried on Monday in Ntcheu, 180 km south of the capital. Thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects as the convoy passed.
The tragedy comes after mourners at the funeral service in the national stadium on Sunday sang songs criticising President Lazarus Chakwera.
Chilima and eight others died when a military aircraft crashed in bad weather. Tens of thousands of Malawians turned up to pay tribute to him, remembering his special connection with the youth and his fresh approach to politics.