Dennis Liwewe’s Epic Journey Ends in Grand Style In his life Dennis Liwewe so often loved to give analogies borne of military lingo. It was not uncommon for him to band around phrases like bombardment, wave after wave of attack and open fireeeeee! As his body was being lowered into his final resting place one got a sense that Liwewe may have finally got the military honour that he so gallantry deserved as the Zambia army did a three gun salute. As his body lay still under the wash of a mild breeze, the spray of mourners that had come to pay their last respects may have sensed something out of the ordinary, something spiritual or supernatural. For indeed Liwewe was no ordinary man. He had captured the imagination of the 13 million Zambians but his reputation exceeded the Zambian borders. It may not have been the military mighty that occasioned his final send off that may have impressed the down to earth Liwewe but the fact that his never dying Anglican faith came for him to his last day. He never lost a moment to profess his Anglican faith where he was later canonised. Not only did he get that which may have very easily been his wish but he also brought the high and mighty in Zambian political society led by First Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili leading a battery of ministers and government officials while leading opposition political party leaders like Nevers Mumba of the MMD, Mike Mulongoti of the Peoples’ Party, Father Frank Bwalya of the Alliance for a Better Zambia and United Party for National Development Vice President Richard Kapita were also counted. There were also sports administrators like Max Sichula, Chifumu Banda, Teddy Mulonga and the two figures of Simataa Simataa and Andre Mtine who have been served with life bans by FAZ. You may also have had to pinch yourself if you are a follower of the Zambian football politics had you learnt that former FIFA referee Winstone Gumboh, yes the man who is alleged to have been served a life ban by Simataa was in the house. Did I not see the two embrace and laugh off the stories about life bans? Well that is a story for another day. Are not funerals notorious for setting the stage for unexpected reunions? During eulogies, Liwewe’s name was testament of a man who had lived his life to the fullest and his works – that unique voice leading to the brand he was and lived – manifested from the speeches of the many that stood to pay homage. He was a man born in Malawi, educated in Zimbabwe and could have easily chosen to share his passion with either of the two countries but instead picked on Zambia to build a name that transcended beyond a region and a continent. His son Ponga, one he has groomed around the game that made him the giant, delivered the life history revealing he was the last man standing in a generation of six siblings. Maxwell Sichula, a friend of Liwewe of over 40 years, spiced his send off message with Liwewe’s football lingo saying the celebrated king of the commentary box had scored a hat-trick and lived into extra-time by defying the myth that one born with one kidney could not live the length the fallen hero did. Sichula said; “Dennis was passionate about football and he was a people’s man with a lot of humility.” But it was the words of one of his grandchildren – Farai Liwewe – the first born daughter of Liwewe Liwewe that invited the congregation to a massive applause when she told of how the death of the legend they called ‘Gogo Muni’ had left them three goals down but as the luminary would remark, they’ll rebound saying; “we feel we are three goals down with our striker out but we’ll bounce back in second-half and triumph.” The widow Mama Slyvia, whose eulogy was delivered by Dr Fridah Kazembe, told of how she shared a 50-year journey with Liwewe while daughter Kwangu narrated the great father he was. Sports minister Chishimba Kambwili tickled mourners when narrating how as a young boy he would ‘charge’ batteries using direct energy from the sun in readiness of Liwewe’s commentaries when Zambia was engaged in a soccer match. “I am consoled that Zambia won the Africa Cup in Dennis Liwewe’s lifetime; it’s what he chased after for,” Kambwili said. Kennedy Gondwe, a representative of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), where Liwewe spent more than two decades of his 41-year illustrious sports broadcasting career said; “You lit our airwaves with your witty and incisive reporting.” As the Zambia army car powered out of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross grounds one got a sense that it was the kind of air Liwewe saw in a football match – a war zone. Yes the author mischievously found himself right in the middle of the military motorcade and took the scene all in with a little tinge of trepidation but knowing too well Liwewe may not have wanted it any different. The motorcade led by some flashy police officers on motorbikes treated the spectators that lined up the streets to quite some breathtaking artistry. At 14:20 the procession rolled into Church Road all the way to Independence Avenue and then Alick Nkhata Road flowing in Kabulonga Road and finally Twin Palm Road. Fifteen minutes later the procession ground to a halt at the Leopards Hill Memorial Park where the men in uniform put up quite a grand performance that even the smooth mouthed Liwewe may have run out of superlatives to describe the spectacle. As the body was being disembarked, the Liwewe family looked on in mournful silence with the usually calm Ponga perhaps the most recognizable of the Liwewes football wise, and himself with an accomplished repute across the African continent, looking increasing agitated as his father’s final send off beckoned. When the body was being lowered about six feet below, the heavens opened with rains drizzling, a traditional symbol of great personality’s departure. It made the tricky business of laying wreaths troublesome but it subsided. It was time for the widow mama Sylvia to lead the way and what better way than in her squeaky clean Anglican regalia and her children followed led by first born Linda and her husband Mr Onsu, Ponga and his wife Vivian, Liwewe Liwewe and his wife Mazyanga and the last born Kwangu in the order of their seniority before a litany of officials followed suit. The business went on amidst a wash of mild rains with Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata’s little dilemma whether to kneel or just bend over on laying wreaths raising a few nosy eyebrows! But maybe the author was just being too observant. But then what was with a moment of hesitation as the Football Association of Zambia was called to lay wreaths. For a moment it seemed no one was coming leading to an uncomfortable silence until the association vice-president Boniface Mwamelo emerged sheepishly leading the Football House flock. Soccer fans association leader Pastor Peter Makembo reignited memories of Liwewe’s connection with Gate D when he commandeered a battalion of his followers, glad in national colours, into a Kalombo mwane rendition. It wasn’t until 14:56 hours that Liwewe received his grand military send off with three volleyed shots in the air. Something in the realm of his open fireeeeee creed! In the end the 78-year may have died the gallant soldier he always was, always leading his beloved KK11 to victory from the front albeit in the commentary box. In life he was loved but in death even more. His remains interred but that infectious voice lives on. Go well Dennis! Story and pictures by SYDNEY MUNGALA Source: bolazambia zambiareports/2014/04/27/dennis-liwewes-epic-journey-ends-grand-style/
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 08:48:36 +0000
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