Chakwera leads Malawians in Remembrance Day: Opposition leader Nakhumwa joined in laying wreath

November 8, 2020 Nyasa Times Reporter Be the first to comment

President Lazarus Chakwera  on Sunday led the nation in honouring Malawian soldiers who fought in the first and second World Wars.

Chakwera receiving a wreath from a Malawi Defence soldier-Pic by Gracian Jeke
Leader of Opposition Chakwera paying respect after laying a wreath to mark Remembrance Sunday in Mzuzu -Pic by Roy Nkosi
Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa laying a wreath -Pic by Roy Nkosi
British High Commissioner David Beer and another diplomat proceed to lay their wreaths -Pic by Roy Nkosi
Chief Justice Richard Nyirenda and Speaker of Malawi Nationa Assemmbly Catherine Gotani Hara laying their wreath- pic by Gracian Jeke Mana
A war veteran & a service officer lay wreaths -Pic by Roy Nkosi
War veteran-pic by Gracian Jeke Mana
Wives of men working in various law enforcement agencies joined the nation in remembers the fallen heros-Pic by Gracian Jeke

Following a two-minute silence, the President led the way by laying a wreath  at a makeshift cenotaph at Mzuzu Upper Stadium.

During the ceremony attended by people from all walks of life, including Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament (MPs), senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps,  and war veterans, the clergy prayed for peace and tranquility in Malawi.

Besides Chakwera, others who laid wreaths included MDF Commander General Vincent Nundwe and the Inspector General of Police George Kainja.

Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara  and Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, SC, laid their wreaths before Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa took his turn.

British High Commissioner David Beer also laid his wreath.

The clergy, who included Muslim and Christian denominations, also prayed for the souls of those who died during the wars, the survivors widely called “war veterans” and their families, saying they sacrificed their lives for the peace the world is enjoying.

According to Malawi Defence Force (MDF), soldiers from the then Nyasaland King’s African Rifles (KAR), under the British colonial command, put up a gallant fight in East African countries such as Somalia, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Some of the KAR soldiers fought in Europe and Asia during the First World War from 1914 to 1918 and the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.

Remembrance Day is commemorated annually on November 11 or a Sunday preceding the date, saying that was the day the guns were silenced to mark the end of the First World War in 1918.

Currently, there is no living soldier in the country that fought in World War 1 from 1914 to 1918 but some who fought in the Second World War are still alive.

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