Government consulting on heroes’ acre

Malawi Government has committed that it will soon update the nation whether it would designate the burial site of the late Rose Chibambo as a heroes’ acre.

Before her burial mid this month, Mzuzu City Council declared the site had been earmarked as a regional heroes’ acre, but Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Jappie Mhango said the government was unaware of an arrangement to have a regional heroes’ acre.

When Weekend Nation followed up with Mhango on Wednesday to check if the burial site is now recognised as a heroes acre, Mhango said the government was yet to be briefed by the Ministry of Sport and Culture on the matter as it has not been brought before cabinet for discussion.

He added that the Minister of Sports and Culture Obama Chiumia was best placed to comment on the matter.

“Government has not yet discussed the issue. The matter will be brought before government at an appropriate time,” said Mhango.

Chiumia said there was need for the government to consult and that its position on the matter would be known by end February.

However, she said the government appreciates the need to have a heroes’ acre where all the country’s heroes can be buried.

“The government appreciates the need to have a heroes’ acre where heroes can be buried. In most countries, a heroes’ acre is a national site, so there are a number of issues we will have to discuss. The issue about the late Rose Chibambo’s burial site has just emerged so there is need for consultations,” said Chiumia.

During her burial on January 16, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia general secretary, Reverend Levi Nyondo, warned government against abandoning the site the way it did with late Chakufwa Chihana’s burial site.

He gave government a one year ultimatum to prove that it can manage the site and that should there be no commitment, the synod would exhume Chibambo’s remains and bury them at its cemetery in Ekwendeni.