By Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, Dowa
President Lazarus Chakwera must be commended for rising to the occasion and stepping up to the plate during the tragic death of the country’s Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, who was killed in a plane crash in Chikangawa Forest on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Chilima’s untimely death has ignited a wave of conspiracy theories propagated by various people, primarily through social media. Suddenly, every Jim and Jack has become a know-it-all, spreading half-truths and even complete falsehoods online.
Despite advice and appeals for calm by well-meaning Malawians, urging people to hold their breath and wait for proper and comprehensive investigations to be conducted, the spread of misinformation has continued unabated across social media.
Unfortunately, some of the hate speech and half-truths are being propagated by people who should be bringing calm and hope during this time of tragedy.
One notable figure guilty of spreading hate speech during this time is UTM’s Secretary-General, Patricia Kaliati. Kaliati has been uncontrollable and has acted like a dangerous talk-show host, allowing her mouth to do much of the thinking without using her brain.
Kaliati should have known, or at least tried to understand, the standard practices of air crash investigations before talking about ‘transponders’ and furthering dangerous theories. She should have known that as Secretary-General of the departed Vice President’s party, her words would have far-reaching repercussions on a nation high on sensitivities.
‘Nambepambe’ and fatuous politician that she has always been, Kaliati was simply callous and childish. Her populist disposition during a time of bereavement was not only silly but also a dangerous display of her leadership folly as UTM CEO.
Fortunately, President Lazarus Chakwera stepped in just in time to save the situation and demonstrate true leadership in a time of crisis. Chakwera’s speech, even amidst the ‘noise’ that Kaliati fermented, was in a class of its own.
In his eulogy, President Chakwera acknowledged that it was normal in times of tragedy for people to search for an outlet for their anger and that he understood their directing their anger at him as President.
He said he would do the same if he were in their shoes. Chakwera said that as President of the country and Chilima’s boss and partner, he was personally and profoundly awestruck by Chilima’s death, which he described as shocking.
The President promised to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the cause of the tragedy is thoroughly and comprehensively investigated.
President Chakwera’s eulogy at Bingu Stadium has been described by commentators as uniquely powerful and uniting. One online commentator described the speech as a demonstration of exemplary leadership during this tumultuous time.
“It’s embarrassing for those who seek to breed chaos during a time of mourning. It’s sad that so many illiterates have come out propagating their convoluted narratives about the tragic demise of the late VP,” wrote one commentator on Facebook.
Disclaimer: The author is writing in his personal capacity and views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
