Fireworks light up Malawi’s skies
THOUSANDS of Blantyre residents flocked to the Independence Arch on Masauko Chipembere Highway, on Wednesday night, to celebrate the country’s 53rd independence anniversary. The celebrations which were organised by the Blantyre City Council were spiced up by food, music and fireworks.
The patrons were treated to delicious food and nice music from Mizu, Mibawa and Prison Service Brass bands.
As the time approached five minutes before midnight a Malawi Defence Force soldier in old colonial military uniform lowered the Union Jack and later another soldier raised the Republican flag to suggest the fall of colonial rule and the rising of the independence dispensation, a recreation of what happened in 1964.
Beautiful displays of fireworks followed at exactly 12 midnight to officially marking 53 years of independence for Malawi. Stella Lungu, one of the patrons at the celebrations said she was impressed with this year’s independence celebrations especially in Blantyre.
“This is good. There is change in the way independence is being celebrated. All the times you see people going to the stadium to have fanta and some snacks. It becomes boring to see the same things time and again. The city council has done a good job because this is the way to celebrate the 53rd independence anniversary,” she said.
Yamikani Livata concurred with Lungu saying this year’s independence celebrations in Blantyre were well organised.
Livata, however, said the country’s 53rd independence celebrations must go beyond the excitement in food and music and drinks saying the country must take stock of what it has achieved during the past 53 years as it maps the way forward.
“We should sit down as a country and see where we have done well and where we have failed since the Malawi Congress Party era, throughout the multiparty if we are to effectively plan for the future,” he said.
In Lilongwe, very few residents patronised the evening celebrations which took place at Mbowe Park. The event was initially planned to take place at Memorial Tower in Area 18 near Kamuzu Memorial Tower but it was later moved to Mbowe near Lilongwe City Mall.
Black Missionaries Band spiced up the event which was largely patronised by liquor enthusiasts and a few people including police officers who came to set off fireworks marking the Independence Day.
Among notable persons that attended the event were Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Aggrey Massi.
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