We were good friends—JZU

Former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo has described the late Gwanda Chakuamba, who died yesterday, as a true Statesman who was passionate about his country.

Tembo, who worked with Chakuamba from way back in the 1960s, said in an interview yesterday he was saddened by his death.

He said: “I am really saddened and shaken by his death. He was my good friend who was my best man at my wedding. As a country, really we have lost a fighter.”

Tembo further said when his wife, Ruth, died, Chakuamba was by his side to comfort and offer him moral support.

He added: “He was here [at Tembo’s residence], sleeping in the other room for almost a month. Of course, we had our fights and when we fought we fought hard, but we were always good friends and that is what made our relationship stronger.”

Tembo succeeded Chakuamba as both MCP president and leader of opposition in Parliament amid controversy on both occasions after power struggles that, at one point, turned violent during one of the MCP conventions where pangas flew from the two political rivals’ supporters. n