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MCP remembers Kamuzu

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) yesterday held a memorial service for its patriach and founding father of the Malawi nation, president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

The ceremony was marked by prayers and speeches at the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe before officials laid wreaths at his mausoleum, a walking distance from the party headquarters.

Founding president the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda mausoleum
Founding president the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda mausoleum

Those in attendance included party president and Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera and his wife, Kamuzu’s long-time companion  and official hostess Cecilia Kadzamira, former speaker of National Assembly Louis Chimango and selected Kamuzu’s family members.

Conspicuously absent at the ceremony were government or ruling Democratic Progressive Party officials.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chakwera urged the party’s members to be united and overcome challenges of today as Kamuzu did in pursuing independence and developing the country.

“Selective memory of Kamuzu’s legacy has led to the country throwing away the good things he taught us. Many people have held on to anger against us which they just inherited and don’t know why they hold it. People are just dealing in prejudice, but don’t understand our history,” said Chakwera.

He said the country has stagnated in development since Kamuzu left office and challenged the youth to participate in the party’s rebuilding as Kamuzu’s political team and Cabinet was full of young people, citing Aleke Banda, who at 21 was a senior official of the party, as an example.

Chakwera also revealed an ambitious plan to renovate the party’s headquarters as one way of honouring Kamuzu. He called for donations from well-wishers and the party’s faithful.

Earlier, church leaders offered a sermon and choirs sang Christian songs before MCP supporters clad in party cloth joined the dignitaries at the mausoleum for the wreath laying ceremony.

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