Veteran politician Robson Watayachanga Chirwa who died on Tuesday will be accorded full military honours during his funeral service in Mzuzu funeral in recognition to his contribution to the development of the country.

Watayachanga Chirwa who once served as Acting President when the then President Dr. Hastings Kamuzi Banda was ill will be laid to rest on Friday.

Speaking in an interview with the press on Wednesday, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi said Chirwa deserve military honour for his contribution to the country.

“Based on the contributions he made towards national development, the State thought it wise to accord him a funeral with military honours.

“The late Chirwa, who worked as a diplomat, parliamentarian and Cabinet minister, will be remembered for his loyalty, maturity and exceptional standards which he displayed during the time,” said Dausi.

Born on October 29, 1931, Chirwa’s highest position was when he was part of a triumvirate that ran the country when Kamuzu was taken ill in 1993. His counterparts were John Tembo and the late Gwanda Chakuamba.

He dies a humble veteran, who refused to continue practising politics in the multi-party era, allowing what he called new ideas and players to take over.

He was a dedicated member of the Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP and a cultural pillar in the Zwangendaba (Mzimba) Ngonis as one of the founders and pillars of the Mzimba Heritage Association a grouping of all Ngonis under the Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa.

Apart from serving in different cabinet portfolios, Chirwa served on several occasions as MCP secretary general, regional minister, regional chairman and for long, as central executive committee member.