Remembering the great Kamuzu
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera has called for greater efforts for Malawi to reinforce unity which he says was one of things that former president Hastings Kamuzu Banda emphasised.
Banda died on November 27 1997 and was laid to rest on December 3.
Every year, his family holds a memorial ceremony in honour of Malawi’s first president, which include prayers and the laying of wreaths at the mausoleum in Lilongwe.
Yesterday, the prayers were conducted by Nsungwi Church of Central Africa Presbyterian of Nkhoma Synod.
Speaking at the memorial, Chakwera said that despite Malawi having people of different cultural backgrounds, unity must always be encouraged among them.
“It is not just a matter of talking about unity; we must encourage it across the board. There should be no divisions among Malawians despite our different cultural backgrounds. That is something that Dr Banda strictly encouraged,” he said.
Chakwera added that Malawi is failing to develop because the country’s leaders have failed to leverage on the foundations that Dr Banda laid.
“He had great plans for this country because he was thinking about future generations. But if you look at what is happening now, you will see that everyone is putting themselves first. They are stealing government money without any remorse. Corruption is rampant,” he said.
Banda’s family member, Ken Kandodo, urged both the current government and those to come to consider revamping the agriculture sector which is the mainstay of Malawi’s economy.
He said Banda made agriculture one of his development priorities and that the fruits were there for all to see.
“When he came back to Malawi, Kamuzu made it clear that he had not brought any wealth but that the wealth of this country is in its soils. That is how he valued agriculture and we all saw that hunger was not an issue,” he said.
Other dignitaries who attended the memorial include MCP vice-president and Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, former official government hostess Cecelia Tamanda Kadzamira and Times Group Board Chairperson, Francis Pelekamoyo.
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