President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday afternoon led the nation in sending off former State Vice President Dr. Justin Malewezi on his last journey .Malewezi died on 17 April, 2021 at Kamuzu International Airport when he was being airlifted to South Africa to access medical services.In his hearty eulogy Chakwera described the death of Dr Malewezi as a great loss to the nation.
President Chakwera described Malewezi as a library of knowledge and wisdom, saying it is sad losing such monumental citizens “Malawi has lost an administrator, a great hero and a statesman. I knew Malewezi very well; he taught me a number of lessons in my life.”
“Malewezi never kept grudges with anyone. Keeping grudges is like keeping poison and this is what Malewezi used to teach us,” said the Malawi leader who continued that Malewezi believed in peace and was a strong advocate of culture.
“He was someone who used to love everyone regardless of their political interests,” President Chakwera said.
The incumbent vice president, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima along side former Presidents Dr. Joyce Banda and Dr. Bakili Muluzi, who the late Malewezi served as his vice president for 10 years attended the ceremony.
Dr Justin Chimera Malewezi was a seasoned politician who was born on 23 December, 1943 and was once a member of Parliament for Ntchisi North. He was Vice-President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004. Also in attendance among the mourners was King of Chewa people in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, His Majesty Kalonga Gawa Undi.
The late Malewezi served as republican for president Muluzi twice as vice president Bakili Muluzi as well as the Secretary to the President and cabinet during the late Kamuzu Banda’s era.
The late Malewezi is survived by his wife, four children and grandchildren.
