Malawi honour war dead
A two-minute silence took place at 11:00 GMT as President Peter Mutharika on Sunday led the nation in honouring Malawian soldiers who fought in the first and second World Wars .
Mutharika led the commemorations at the Cenotaph in Lilongwe. Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya and opposition leaders attended.
Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament (MPs), senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and war veterans attended the event to pay tribyte soldiers from the then Nyasaland King’s African Rifles (KAR), under the British colonial command, who put up a gallant fight in East African countries such as Somalia, Tanzania and Ethiopia during the First World War from 1914 to 1918 and the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.
The clergy, who included Muslim and Christian denominations, prayed for peace and tranquility in Malawi.
The President led the way by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph .
Besides Mutharika, others who laid wreaths included MDF Commander General Griffin Supuni-Phiri, deputy Inspector General of Police, Rodney Jose and diplomats.
Remembrance Sunday is an opportunity to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the peace the world is enjoying.
There were other commemorations t at he Zomba War Memorial Tower in the colonial capital and Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu.
And Vice President Saulos Chilima on Friday called on Malawians to ceaselessly support veterans of the First and Second world wars, saying their sacrifice could not be appreciated enough.
Chilima was speaking at Lilongwe’s Golf Club where he graced the Veterans’ Charity Golf Tournament the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) organized.
“We enjoy this peace today because these people we call veterans sacrificed a lot, but although we call them veterans today, that’s not what they were on the battle field. They risked their lives,” he said.
Chilima said the golf tourney was only one small token of appreciation to the veterans’ noble cause.
He challenged Malawians to do more in form of donation to support the day-to-day welfare of the veterans.
The event also included fundraising activities such as sale of poppy ribbons and a raffle draw. Proceedings will go to the same initiative.
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Wondering when Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) is observed on November 11th, at 11am in all Western countries to mark the end of World War 1, in the hopes of not repeating such an event and remember those that served and died.
Why the Malawian president would hold the event on November 13th, at 11am.
Even though the gesture is appreciated it is against tradition of Commonwealth countries,
Can we say Christmas Day on December 25th or New Years Day January 1st or Martyr’s Day March 3rd celebrations in Malawi should be held 2 days later to accommodate the president’s schedule.