By Durell Namasani
President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Sunday, led the nation in Remembrance Day in commemoration of fallen veterans of two world wars, at the Zomba War Memorial Tower.
President Chakwera arrived at the Zomba Memorial Tower, Cobbe Barracks at exactly 10:58 two minutes before the hour of 11 o’clock which is the hour that the Second World War ended in 1918.
The Malawi leader was welcomed by the Malawi Defence Force, Army Commander Paul Valentino Phiri and Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service responsible for administration, Happy Mkandawire.
According to Malawi Defence Force Public Relations Officer Major Calvin Mlelemba
the day is also set aside to appreciate the role that the living and serving soldiers play in safeguarding their countries.
Mlelemba explained that the Remembrance Day is also meant to remember all the contributions that the departed as well as ex-service soldiers made in all the country’s major operations and different operations outside the country citing Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Remembrance Day is globally celebrated on November 11, to mark the very day that the second world war ended.
The day is also described as the 11,11.
President Dr Chakwera was the first to lay a wreath followed by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Madaliso Kazombo and Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Lovemore Chikopa.
Member of Parliament for Zomba Chisi, Mark Botomani laid a wreath representing opposition parties in parliament.
During the ceremony a living war veteran, Warrant Officer Class 1, Frank Masiano represented all war veterans who took part in wars by laying a wreath.
Tanzanian Ambassador to Malawi, Agness Kayola represented members of the Diplomatic Corps in laying wreath.
In Zomba, the ceremony also marked 100 years since the establishment of the war memorial Pillar.
