INDEPENDENCE
Blantyre City Council yesterday cancelled an Independence Day event at the eleventh hour, leaving residents, including children stranded.
The council’s deputy public relations officer Charity Ng’omaikalira confirmed the cancellation, but did not give reasons.
“I can confirm that we have cancelled the event. That is all I can say,” she said.
at Chichiri yesterday. | Francis Chamasowa
Blantyre City Council had earlier announced that there will be local level celebrations at Kamuzu Stadium to mark the 62nd Independence Anniversary.
However, a visit to the stadium yesterday found children and small- scale traders stranded after arriving in the venue.
One of the businesspersons, Chrissy Katopola from Makhetha, said she travelled to town believing that the celebrations would go ahead as planned.
“I came here thinking there would be celebrations at Kamuzu Stadium as planned by Blantyre City Council. I am now heading to Limbe where I have been told business is still going on,” she said.
A group of children from Bright Future Hazard Part Time School said they walked from Ndirande Township, about two kilometres away, hoping to learn from the event.
“We have been told it has been cancelled. Now we will just visit the Independence Arch and go home. The best view of the arch is from the flyover,” said a teacher who requested anonymity.
The council had planned a full-day programme that targeted different groups, particularly children and adults.
Among other activities, the council had planned children’s celebrations in the morning, followed by adult-focused events starting around 3pm
