President Lazarus Chakwera said yesterday he planned a glittering 60th Independence Day celebration in the vastness of the 40 000-seater Bingu National Stadium.
But as fate had it, the commemoration was an ice-cold affair hosted in an auditorium at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. And, for larger times, it seemed like a memorial service for Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight other victims of the plane crash last month.
A minute’s silence in honour of the departed was observed, taking the nation a trip down memory lane. After all, 26 days since the crash is not a long time.
Then came speeches and sermons. All were seemingly themed on lamentation, healing and hope. It was this disaster, Chakwera said, that forced the commemoration plan and effectively swept away the joy.
“In February, I appeared before Parliament where I mentioned we want to have a significant celebration marking 60 years of independence,” he said, further disclosing that an undisclosed foreign Head of State was to attend.
“All those plans have been cancelled due to the sorrowful times we are in following the painful deaths. However, let us accept that that’s the way of life. God’s plans are beyond our knowledge.”
The President also urged political leaders to help the country heal from the disaster while emphasising that results of investigation into the cause of the plane crash and autopsies would help heal the nation.
Chakwera said the country needs to embrace Chilima’s vision of achieving greatness.
“As we mark 60years, we need to unite to ensure that this country develops in line with the vision of the late Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima. We must also change our way of operating if we are to address the perpetual challenges we have been facing over the years,” he said.
Key opposition leaders shunned the ceremony despite the government, saying that all parties were invited.
Ironically, the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in an interview yesterday denied receiving an invitation to the event where the President led Malawians of different religious and political divides in praying for peace and unity.
During the service, ministerial committee chairperson for the ceremony Harry Mkandawire said they ensure that all parties received the invitation.
“We sent the invitation cards and made follow-ups through phone calls. There is no party which can claim that it did not receive an invitation,” he said.
However, in a response to our questionnaire, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said: “We did not receive any invitation.”
Meanwhile, newly formed People’s Development Party president Kondwani Nankhumwa, the former Leader of Opposition, was also missing from the event.
Responding to our questionnaire, the party’s publicist Rhodes Msonkho said the invitation “came very late”.
“It was sent to our president on the night of Friday and it was not possible for us to make logistical arrangements for him to travel from Mulanje to Lilongwe for the prayers,” he said.
Aford president Enock Chihana confirmed receiving the invitation but said he delegated his vice-president responsible for strategy Imran Sheriff Mohamed while United Democratic Front spokesperson Yusuf Mwawa said they sent a high powered delegation of five people to the event.
The theme for this year’s commemorations is: ‘United in Resilience; Moving forward together.’
In his sermon, Nkhoma Synod’s Mvama CCAP congregation moderator the Reverend Yasin Gama urged Malawians against cursing their nation due to the challenges it faces.
On his part, Quadria Association of Malawi acting vice-chairperson of Sheikh Jaffar Kawinga preached against spread of fake news which he said was holding back the country
