Malawi News

Tributes pour in for Ngeyi Kanyongolo, burial Thursday

Tributes pour in for Ngeyi Kanyongolo, burial Thursday

Tributes continue pouring in for Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo, who until her death was Catholic University of Malawi (Cunima) vice chancellor.

She died in Blantyre on Monday.

In his eulogy, State President Lazarus Chakwera has described Kanyongolo as a special gift Malawi received from God.

“She was one of the greatest women legal minds God bestowed on this nation,” Chakwera says in a statement he signed on Tuesday.

The University of Malawi, which she served for years, also mourned her.

“We mourn an esteemed alumna, former dean of [the] Faculty of Law at the University of Malawi, and distinguished academic leader. Her dedication to the legal profession, her contribution to education, and her commitment to justice have left an indelible mark on our institution and the nation,” Unima’s eulogy reads.

On Wednesday morning, scores of people gathered at Mulunguzi residence in the old capital to bid farewell to her.

Retired chief justice Richard Banda, Unima Vice Chancellor Professor Samson Sajidu, Malawi University of Science and Technology Vice Chancellor Professor Address Malata, Zomba City Mayor Christopher Jana and his deputy Anthony Gonani were in attendance.

Others in attendance were people from the country’s universities, politicians, businessmen, top leaders in non-governmental organisations, religious leaders, among others..

Later in the day, a funeral mass was held at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Church.

Another requiem mass, this time at Cunima’s cafeteria hall, followed.

Kanyongolo will be laid to rest in Chechamba Village in Thyolo District.

She was born on March 31 1969.