By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera has urged Malawians to emulate the spirit and legacy of late Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda whom he said was a fighter for freedom to the people of the entire nation not for his personal gains.
Speaking a Civo Stadium on Sunday 14th May, 2023 during the Kamuzu Day Commemorations, Chkwera described Late Kamuzu as an icon who did not fight for his personal benefits but freedom for his fellow countrymen.
Chakwera told the nation in his speech that it needed strong minds to fight for Malawi’s own freedom, the challenge Kamuzu volunteered to take for every Malawian citizen, and generations to come.
“We are here to celebrate the life of Kamuzu because there are a lot in relation and connection to the father of our nation and today I want to highlight on three things in brief which we must appreciate and commend Kamuzu for doing to this nation.
Firstly, it is worthy to celebrate and emulate the soldierly spirit of Kamuzu who fought tough battles to win our freedom and establish this Malawi. Secondly, it is good to celebrate the life of Kamuzu on development and economic agenda that he laid the foundation. Lastly Kamuzu is worthy celebrating for establishing Civil Service system which was strong, functional, and dedicated to serve the nation with well established conditions making it to become the best Civil Service in the whole part of Southern Africa.” Said the President while urging Malawians to learn from the legacy and spirit of late Kamuzu.
Further, Chakwera who said currently the Civil Service is poor as it is eroded with corruption, discrimination, and selfishness, said these are the reasons his administration is making reforms to make sure the Civil Service is back on track once again.
In his speech, President Chakwera also hinted on issues of some vulnerable citizens who are failing to access justice, saying this is not what Kamuzu wanted.
In his remarks, Ken Kandodo representing Kamuzu family thanked President Chakwera for honoring Kazumu who is the founder of the nation, saying even in the Bible, founders were honored.
Kandodo added that if the foundation laid by Kamuzu are continued, Malawi will develop. Here he commended President Chakwera for putting his focus and vision on developing Malawi inline with Kamuzu’s vision.
He said the has brought unity among all Malawians, the unity that Kamuzu promoted throughout his reign.
Minister of Local Government who was also the Chairman for the commemoration, Richard Chimwendo Banda thanked the President for his leadership which he said is emulating Kamuzu legacy.
Chimwendo then disclosed that government is still waiting for the family of late President Bingu Wa Mutharika on the directive by President Chakwera to engage the family members on his administration’s plan to takeover the care for Mpumuro Wabata, the resting place of late Bingu.
Late Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda is believed to have born on 14th May, 1906 in Kasungu, and is remembered for his fight against colonialism and taking Malawi into Independence as well as Republic in 1964 and 1966 respectively.
