President Lazarus Chakwera Sunday led Malawians in commemorating Martyrs’ Day with a call for everyone to reject foreign exploitation of the country’s resources.
The event took place in Nkhata Bay, where on March 3, 1959, dozens of people stood in solidarity to demand freedom from colonial rulers.
Chakwera said the over 50 people who were killed on the day, at least 1,300 who got injured and dozens who were arrested put up the struggle because they loved their country.
“They showed us that a good citizen fights for better life and does not wait for others to do it for them. The pangs of colonialism were like the pangs of poverty now.
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“Our forefathers in the Southern Region and here in the Northern Region gave themselves fully to defeating colonialism. Everyone across the country woke up with vigour to fight colonialism,” the President, who laid wreaths at the cemetery and the memorial pillar, said.
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He added that the fighters taught the country important lessons about using available resources to improve their welfare.
Chakwera cited an example of people of Chitipa District, who blocked roads so that tanks and other war equipment that were being sent from Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, should not pass.
“They did not allow the absence of guns and other weapons among them to prevent them from fighting the colonialists,” he said.
He then called on Malawians to utilise their capabilities and available tools to fight poverty.
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In 1953, colonialists created the Federation of Nyasaland and Rhodesia whose governance style was said to be brutal.
“That was the time our foreparents decided enough was enough. That was the time they realised foreigners should not be allowed to steal your wealth,” Chakwera said.
He has since directed the Ministry of Justice to work with his office so that families of victims of the 1959 uprising can get compensated.
A representative of the families James Thawe hailed the President for the directive, saying it was long overdue.
“We are also grateful to the President for according us an opportunity to meet him at State House where we voiced out the issues,” Thawe said.
Since 2005, the families have been asking government to facilitate the compensation payout from the British Government.
Other notable people who graced the event include Vice-President Saulos Chilima, former vice president Khumbo Kachali, Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa.
