By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera has urged Malawians to follow the footsteps of the fallen heroes of March 3,1959, saying their commemoration is a testament that in their day they were called upon to face off a storm and a national disaster that threatened their very survival, describing it as a true meaning of Patriotism.
“To me this is what it means to be a patriot. It means standing up for your country. It means standing up to the imperialist forces that threaten the sovereignty of our country. It means standing up to corrupt forces that threaten the integrity of the state. It means standing up to the condescending forces that threaten the authenticity of our culture. It means standing up to the destructive forces that threaten the biodiversity of our ecosystem. It means standing up to the divisive forces that threaten the unity and peace that exist between Malawians of different races, different religions, different genders, and different political parties. In short, true patriotism means standing up to any force that threatens the good of the country we love. “Read part of the speech President Chakwera delivered at Maganga ground in Nkhata-Bay district during the commemoration prayers of the martyrs.
He then urged the citizenry to be proud of the country for the best life, thoughts, feelings, aspirations, and dreams that are tied to it.
Further, President Chakwera told the nation that his administration has the plan underway to construct a modern mausoleum for late Orton Edgar Ching’oli Chirwa and an airport in his name for being an icon and one of the national treasures the country have had.
He then thanked the surviving relatives for the freedom fighters who attended the ceremony on March 3,2022, describing them as visual reminder that the memory and legacy of anyone who sacrifices what is dear to them in order to make Malawi better for others cannot be erased.
In his speech, President Chakwera took advantage to express disappointment on those who have mishandled the AIP for this season following the complaint by senior chief Mkumbira of Nkhata-Bay on the way the program has been carried out in the area.
Making his remarks, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Michael Biswick Usi said the government has plans to take MV Mpasa to Nkhata-Bay district as one way of keeping history for the fallen heroes who were packed in the ship before they were killed.
Speaking on behalf of the relatives to the Martyrs, James Thawi thanked the President for adopting the martyrs day to be a government event, saying it has shown that Chakwera is really a President for all Malawians.
Thawi further described the fallen heroes as people who had true love among themselves, towards their leaders, and their country by fighting for self rule and freedom that the country has today. He then made several request to the government for the surviving relatives for the Martyrs, while concurring with Senior Chief Mkumbira in thanking the Chakwera led government for adopting the day.
It is on record that Nkhata-Bay is topping the list of those who lost their lives with a total of 31 people, but other districts include Kasungu, Dowa and Mchinji. During this year’s event President Lazarus Chakwera read the scripture from the book of Jeremiah 4:19-23.
