Brian Banda burial today

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) director general Brian Banda will be laid to rest at his M’banda Village, Traditional Authority Kuntaja in Chileka, a stone’s throw from Bakili Muluzi International Airport in Blantyre. Banda died on Saturday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in the commercial city and his body was collected from Mthunzi Funeral Parlour before a send-off church service at Word of Faith Church in Chilobwe Township. Hundreds of mourners, including Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha, members of Parliament, other politicians and the media fraternity attended both ceremonies at Mthunzi and Word of Faith before the body was taken to his home village.

In his eulogy, Word of Faith Church leader Apostle Timothy Khoviwa struggled to contain his emotions as he stood at the pulpit where Banda used to minister as well. Many Sundays, Banda was also acting as interpreter as Khoviwa preached. He said Banda joined the church in 2012 and later served as resident pastor at the City of Wonders Cathedral.

Khoviwa, who is presidential adviser on religious affairs, described Banda as a dedicated man who actively participated in church activities. “To think that Brian is lying in this box today is more than just unthinkable,” he said, wiping tears. MBC board member Bishop Livingston Samudeni said the public broadcaster would remember Banda as a dedicated member of staff.

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He said: “For the short time that he has been at MBC, many things have transformed through his leadership. We will miss him.” Malawi Congress Party campaign director Moses Kunkuyu described Banda as a passionate broadcaster, a friend to many and a professional who contributed to the media fraternity. Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter chairperson Felix Washon said the media fraternity had lost a talented and dedicated professional.

“Brian was talented, passionate about his job, dedicated and he was ambitious to excel in his profession. We mourn him as we have lost a professional,” he said. Banda started his broadcasting career at Capital FM, where he hosted programmes including Capital Straight Talk, Sunday Roundtable and NewsTalk, which brought government and opposition voices together for public debate. He later joined Times Group, where he hosted many programmes including Hot Current, Kwagwanji and Tikuziweni, among others.

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