Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday, March 22, 2021 made glowing and moving tribute speech during the state funeral for the late Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli which has excited many Africans.
Here is President Chakwera’s Speech:
166 days ago, President John Pombe Magufuli and I had dinner together at the State Residence in Dar es Salaam, but I did not know that it would be our last supper. The following day, he saw me off the apron of Julius Nyerere International Airport, but I did not know that it would be our last goodbye.
Today, I join you all in a state of shock and grief at the passing of one of Africa’s finest sons because none of us saw it coming. This ability to let no one see his next move coming, which we find unsettling in his death, is also what we found inspiring about his life.
When they said laziness and sloth in public service
cannot be cured, they did not see Magufuli coming.
When they said the cartels of corruption strangling
Africa’s governments cannot be defeated, they did not see Magufuli coming.
When they said African States cannot become middle-income economies within a single presidential term, they did not see Magufuli coming.
When they said infrastructural projects in Africa cannot be completed on time and on budget, they did not see Magufuli coming.
When they said the only way to pursue our development is to follow the failed prescriptions of foreign financial institutions that have left Africa more impoverished and in debt than they found it, they did not see Magufuli coming.
*The views of the above article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Africa Speaks 4 Africa or its editorial team.