Malawi govt orders halt of Mahatma Ghandi statue construction

Government has ordered a halt to the construction of Mahatma Ghandi statue in Blantyre but is not known whether Capital Hill has bowed to increasing pressure from Malawians who feel the statue is irrelevant.

The base to host the bust of Ghandi in Blantyre

A visit to the place in Blantyre, looked abandoned with only two men loitering around, not working.

One of the men said the government had issued an order to stop the construction of the statue which drew sharp criticism from Malawians who feel it is immoral to honour and Indian in Malawi when there are many Malawian heroes who deserve such an honour.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rejoice Chaponda Shumba said she did not know anything, pushing the reporter to Blantyre City Council whose public relations officer Anthony Kasunda said the council only provided the space for the statue and pushed the reporter to ministry of Information whose minister Nicholas Dausi said the council was better placed to comment.

This comes amid reports that an anti-statue grouping has obtained a court injunction restraining the council from going ahead with the construction of the statue.

Some people say it was ridiculous to honour an Indian in Malawi when Indians in the country look down upon ordinary Malawians and do not socialize with the locals as they socialize with people whom they do business with.

“The Gandhi statue is senseless in Malawi and a mockery to our heroes that deserve honour and reverence for the role they played for the very survival of this nation,” wrote Malawi News columnist George Kasakula.

“We only have the statue of founding president the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Lilongwe when so many, such as Masauko Chipembere, Orton Chirwa, Gwanda Chakuamba and the list is endless, fought for our independence. Others even died in the struggle.

“Then you have multiparty system of government heroes such as Chakufwa Chihana and Catholic bishops such as the late Archbishop James Chiona and other bishops who authored the seminal 1992 pastoral letter which started agitation for multiparty democracy we are enjoying today,” he added.

Some sections of Malawians say the Indian community treat Malawians as slaves as they give Malawian workers little pay with harsh working conditions.

As the columnist argued, India wants to feel good and conquer the world through the export of its ideals that manifest themselves through the lives of its icons such as Ghandi, regarded as a racist.

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#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

How did Malawi get itself in this shameful position. Whose idea was it in the first to erect the statue. Nthawi zina mitu simakoka.

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

Reading through the statements from government officials on the matter, one is left with no option but to conclude APM’s administration is full of comedians who hold high positions and receive Huge Salaries for doing nothing.

By the way, what is the justification for paying huge salaries to ACB boss, Assets Declaration boss, Director of Public Procurement & Assets Disposal etc etc? They are not doing any work.

mfundo mwafunsandani
5 years ago

Everything the government is doing is worthy criticism. Constructions of roads, state of art buildings in institutions of higher learning, buying of furniture in institution of higher learning attract public criticism…eeh you see they are stealing through these projects….really? All this is out of jealous, especially the pp supporters who still feel humiliated by mighty DPP in 2014. Now they feel they have their political messiah in chicultivator. They are agitated by every move that deem development and will surely score marks for DPP. Of all the names given in this country, to roads, buildings, hospitals, why only attacking this… Read more »

kalipo kalipo
5 years ago

There is the road that is passing along college of medicine where the statue is being erected. It was named after the same ghandi in Kamuzu’s era. Why you people are not attacking the names of our roads to the foreigners? What about this road named after the same Indian icon? What about the international conference these guys are about to built? To be honest had it been that this statue was constructed in JB’s era or Kamuzu’s era the Katsakulas would have remained silent. All what can be seen here is not against ghandi or indians, but to show… Read more »

President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
5 years ago

Now it is the time to stop these Indians from having business contracts and foul our own people

Ndatopa
Ndatopa
5 years ago

The people have spoken! Racists and racisim should never be glorified in any shape or form A Malawi a dzuka!!!

Khima
Khima
5 years ago

Problem is not the decision to have anybody’s statue erected in this country but the policy that guides the decision to choose who deserves a statue erected on a public space. How do we come to say this deserves that one NO? As it is now anybody’s statue can be erected….

Supporter of Current-Government (SC-G)

FREE AND SPECIAL ADVICE TO THE GOVT…Going ahead with this statue will make many people supporting you, turn against you. Please listen to us otherwise you will regret. We have very FEW thousands in our pockets and you have MANY millions, so don’t be tempted with the Indians money. It (money) can’t buy you happiness. Let that go and listen to the views of Malawians for our own good.

ChigezeroD
ChigezeroD
5 years ago

Its funny that no one in government seems to know why construction has been halted..kkkkkkkkk. Limenelo ndiye boma la DPP

Aka
Aka
5 years ago

Most of us in Malawi, the new generation, were born after the Ghandhi the racist was long dead. Our history has nothing to do with him. Kubwekera boma iri. Whoever dangles money before the government is welcomed with their stupid imperialist s ideas. What an ignoble generation of leaders

oMachemba
oMachemba
5 years ago
Reply to  Aka

@Aka: That is really shallow thinking and short sighted, or even “no-sighted” id I may say so. So, you are not concerned about anything not experienced by your generation? Is that right? You are not concerned about the human psychology around the African slavery, centuries ago? Ditto for colonialism, like during the Scramble for Africa? Ditto for colonization of Malawi, or the atrocities committed by Kamuzu, the dictator and his MCP? You must, I trust, know that heroes who against these and other injustices and atrocities were not necessarily personally aggrieved. And it’s now your turn to step up to… Read more »

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