President Peter Mutharika leads Malawians in honouring war heroes
President Peter Mutharika Sunday led the nation in laying a wreath in honour of Malawian soldiers who fought in the First and Second world wars at Zomba War Memorial Tower.
The ceremony was witnessed by Cabine t ministers, parliamentarians, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, war veterans and members of the clergy.
The clerics, who included Muslims and Christians, prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives, war veterans and their families, saying they sacrificed their lives for the world peace that we have following the end of the two major wars.
According to Lieutenant Paul Chiphwanya, who was the master of ceremonies, soldiers from the then Nyasaland Kings Rifles, under the British colonial command, put up a gallant fight in East African countries such as in Somalia, Tanzania and Ethiopia while others fought in Europe and Asia during the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War from (1939-1945).
“Let me tell you that in one specific case, there is a record that 100 soldiers from Nyasaland managed to defeat a 3,000 Italian contingent at a place called Moyale, hence the name Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu in honour of our soldiers that fought and conquered the Italians in that battle,” Lieutenant Chiphwanya said.
He said the Second World War was the deadliest that saw mobilisation of 65 million soldiers of which 10 million were killed and 20 million wounded.
Chiphwanya also said the Second World War involved 100 million people and about 35-50 million people were killed and most European cities were damaged, hence emphasized the need for the Remembrance Day which is commemorated on November 11 because that was when guns were silenced signaling the end of First World War in 1918.
During the event, Mutharika, Army Commander General Ignacio Maulana and senior police officers laid wreaths.
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