President Lazarus Chakwera has cited unity as the building block of development.
He said this Thursday, when Malawians from all walks of life set aside their political, cultural, religious and ethnic differences to celebrate the inaugural Umodzi Day.
Activities marking the day took place at Chilimampunga Ground in Lilongwe’s Mtandile Area, where the President presided over activities.
Vice President Saulos Chilima also graced the occasion, viewing pavilions side by side with Chakwera and First Lady Monica.
Chakwera said unity was the catalyst for development in the vision of Malawi’s founders, further describing it as the safety net “of our culture and “the bastion of our spirit of umunthu”.
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The Malawi leader said somehow along the way, Malawi has abandoned the values of unity, such that the consequences have been regrettable.
“One such result is that even the Malawian passport has been cheapened and reduced to a document over which we have no sovereignty, a piece of paper that is trafficked to people who have no roots or allegiance to our flag or our land.
“Meanwhile, genuine Malawians have to struggle to get that passport, and those who have it are not treated as first-class citizens at our nation’s points of entry. In the face of foreign values that encourage us to depend on handouts, we have abandoned our love of ourselves, our love of building and making our own things, our love of keeping Malawi a nation that stands tall on the world stage and refuses to be intimidated or outperformed by anyone,” Chakwera said .
He has since instructed the Ministry of Local Government to ensure that, going forward, Umodzi Day becomes a day of promoting Malawian things such as fabric, food, languages, dances, art, inventions and attractions.
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“Going forward, this is to be a day for remembering Malawian history and teaching the young the values of Malawian culture. Going forward, this is to be a day for promoting Malawian peace, which is why I have established the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission and appointed outstanding Malawians to serve as its commissioners,” Chakwera said.
Public Affairs Committee Chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale said the preservation of cultural diversity values, dialogue and development across the country and beyond requires everyone’s involvement
He said unity is paramount and that, without unity, Malawi cannot go far.
