Burial set for Malawian official who committed suicide in parliament

LILONGWE, Malawi

Malawi’s former deputy speaker who shot himself in the head on Thursday inside parliament will be buried Saturday in the southeastern town of Mangochi.

With security in place, including electronic detectors for weapons, Clement Chiwaya managed to get inside the parliament building with a loaded gun and killed himself in front of the Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba whose office is on the upper floor of the oval-shaped building.

Sources indicated that due to a disability and the use of a wheelchair, Chiwaya was not always subject to security checks out of respect and consideration.

“He was not really subjected to the checks like going through the security door with detectors and I guess this was the case during his fateful visit,” said a senior official in parliament.

Parliament Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara said she regretted the death of the former lawmaker.

“This incident is tragic and traumatic to all involved and we ask that the public be sensitive to the family and all involved,” said Hara.

Parliament said Chiwaya, 50, was pushing to have his official car term in 2019 transferred to his name as part of retirement benefits at the end of his five-year.

But parliament took time to work out the arrangement even after the ombudsman ruled in his favor.

Parliament justified the delay, citing an outstanding case in court “regarding his vehicle which was involved in an accident while transfer of ownership had not been completed and insurance had expired.”

In a purported suicide note, which has gone viral, Chiwaya hinted he was reduced to being a beggar for something he was thought he was entitled.

“Perhaps out of frustration, Chiwaya decided to kill himself in parliament to make a statement,” said the senior official.

Chiwaya, also served in the Cabinet under former President Peter Mutharika as minister responsible for disability and elderly affairs.

He is the second well-known politician and former lawmaker to commit suicide.

Former Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament Godfrey Kamanya shot and killed himself in 2014 after losing an election.