Malawi govt disappoints Kamuzu family over failure to organise Kamuzu Day events
Family and relations of founding president late Hastings Kamuzu Banda have said they are disappointed that the government continues to ignore invitations to organise Kamuzu Day events.
May 14 is Kamuzu Day, a public holiday in Malawi set aside to remember and celebrate the life of Kamuzu.
Family representative, Ken Kandodo, said this during special prayers on Thursday in Lilongwe in memory of the former Head of State Kamuzu Banda.
“Considering what Kamuzu did for Malawi, government should have been at the core of organising the event,” said Kandodo.
There was no government nor ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative at the event which was attended by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera, and UTM leader Saulos Chilima among other opposition leaders.
Coincidentally, Kandodo and his sister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda are MCP members of parliament – the party which Kamuzu led in the struggle against colonialists in the 1960s before forming the first indigenous Malawian government in 1964.
Kandodo was great grandnephew to Kamuzu.
In his speech, Kandodo , who is also MCP legislator, said it is sad that government choses to ignore their invitations.
He then asked Chakwera and Chilima to continue with Kamuzu’s legacy.
Taking his turn, Chakwera said in a country without good leadership, a vision cannot be achieved.
He said everyone’s contribution is significant if people want to built a nation.
Chakwera, who described Kamuzu “a great leader”, emphasised that resources must be used to promote people’s livehood.
He added that there is also need to respect one another as Malawians.
Kamuzu, who is believed to have been born on February 15 1898, died at a South African hospital on November 25 1997.
He ruled Malawi from July 6 1964 to May 21 1994 when he was defeated by former president Bakili Muluzi—in the first post-independence multiparty general elections in 1994.
This public holiday had been observed across Malawi for 30 years. It was banned when the country attained multiparty democracy in 1993. It was reinstated by President Bingu wa Mutharika in 2009 replacing Freedom Day which marked the 1993 National Referendum that ushered in the multiparty democracy.
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What events do you want to happen on the day? Malawi is a poor country and hence needs to use its resources wisely. Not to sound disrespectful, but I wouldn’t even make it a public holiday if you asked me.
Tsiku lofunika ndi lomwe anamwalira so govt can take part in that. We dont commerate one’s birthday when he is dead how? Will the dead person rise and celebrate with you? But for death day yes because it is a day of mourning. So dzulo were u partying or not how can u be in somber mood on a birthday? Kkkkkkkk koma abale inu Shadrick Wame sanalakwitse kuti mbuli zophunzira zawononga dziko! What impact will it have tadziganizani zinazi abale. Lets wait on 25 November to celebrate his life “Tate wa malawi thats a fact”
MUkuwaputa dala anthu. Next YOUR DEAD MBUYANU will be brought before the International criminal court muyaluke!
MCP kukanika kuikila ndemanga pazachipepeso kwa omwe adazunzidwa ndiulamulilo wa chipanicho.
Chani?
Kuopa kunyozetsa chipani.
HRDC ndimabungwe anzake ndi aja obwebweta akuma University,salankhulapo kuopanso kuyalutsa MCP. KUPONDELEZA
We have covid and we can not do things as usual and above the problem some zombies like Chakwera take Kamuzu as a personal property of MCP. That tin pot was a useless dictator. He us the arctech of the disparities that we have now.
Kodi malirowa anali otenga. Anthu palibetu apa. Aja amati ndife a MCP ndi UTM sanatuluke lero?
Kamuzu was a dictator. He stole billions and left this money with his relatives in Kasungu and MCP.
Koma Achewa Ena ndioepepera Munthu wnawola Kale uyu. Why to celebrate evil person?
Kagwreni uko. You are the same castigating Peter. This is mockery. I would rather celebrate the day when ChakufwaChihana or Gwamda Chakuwamba not this man. Kumaluro umaumilizidwa!
THEY ARE TALKING OF organising,
Mbuyanu uja adali chitsilu Ndipo chitselekwete. For all the good that he did, he did the worse twice over. He brutalised Malawians. Be thankful we even have a day in his name otherwise him and Mcp should be person non grata.
Mzimu wa malemu Jumani uwuse my mtendere…