Chibambo’s burial site earmarked for heroes’ acre

The Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has earmarked for a heroes’ acre the site where the first female member of Cabinet, Rose Chibambo, will be laid to rest during a state funeral tomorrow.

Chibambo is considered a hero for contributing to the fight for independence, and her face is used on a K200 note and a road in Mzuzu was named after her.

MCC mayor William Mkandawire confirmed on Thursday that the council has allocated a piece of land close to the Northern Region Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) offices for Chibambo’s burial.

He added that the site has since been earmarked for a heroes’ acre, adding that anyone considered a hero in the region would be buried there.

“As you can see, the place is close to the M1 road. A number of people use the M1 road which will make it easy for them to have a look at the heroes’ acre. The other aspect is that the area is vast and it will be able to accommodate a number of heroes.

“We thought this is an ideal place because it is easily accessible and people who are just passing by will still be able to see the acre,” said Mkandawire.

Chibambo’s husband, who died while in exile and was buried in Zambia, was from Ekwendeni in Mzimba and some of his relations wanted Rose to be buried there. In the northern region, women are usually buried at their husband’s homes.

Rose Chibambo’s nephew Muyanga Ziba, who described his aunt as a uniting factor, said the deceased told them that she wanted to be buried in Mzuzu where she had been staying since her return from exile in Zambia.

He said it would not be on to ignore her wish and bury her elsewhere, adding that she will rest a happy person when she is buried in Mzuzu as she desired. n