Malawi yesterday clocked 62 years of independence from Britain without fanfare as part of austerity measures under implementation to resuscitate the country’s ailing economy grappling with high cost of living and food insecurity.
Previously, the State would organise a national event where traditional dances, military and police displays as well as local or international friendly football matches formed the menu. In most cases, the celebrations were preceded by national services of worship.
However, in a June 14 2026 statement, Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi said President Peter Mutharika had directed that there should be no government-funded Independence Anniversary Day celebrations on July 6 2026 as part of the government’s austerity measures.
The Nation spot checks yesterday established that there were no State-sponsored events, including prayers.
The Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) and the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) said they had advised their members to hold prayers in their respective places of worship.
MCC board chairperson the Reverend Billy Gama said in an interview yesterday that the council encouraged churches to pray for the country during their usual gatherings on Sunday because it did not want them to incur additional costs.
“We are all of the same agenda of economic management. As a country things are tough, so we just need to echo what the President said on economic measures,” he said.
Gama said there have also been national prayers held on July 5, the eve of Independence Day; hence, it was not peculiar to pray for the country on the day, which coincidentally fell on a Sunday.
MAM publicity secretary Sheikh Dinala Chabulika said Muslims pray five times a day. As such, the association had advised Muslims to pray for the country yesterday.
“The idea of the President is brilliant because as a country we have economic challenges. So, we should not be wasting money on things that can still be done without spending. So this is what we are doing today,” he said.
In his Independence Day message yesterday, Mutharika emphasised the need for the country to strive for economic independence.
The President said the vision prompted his administration to cancel government-funded Independence Day celebrations this year.
He said all public financial resources budgeted for the celebrations would be redirected to economically productive sectors to help alleviate the poverty that has deepened over the past five years.
Last month, Lost History Foundation executive director Conleith Selenje said it would have been better if the day had been commemorated on a “small economic scale”, such as through prayers because it is a day which the nation reflects on where it has come from and looks ahead to its vision.
Despite there being no recent declarations on spending for Independence Day celebrations, records show that the government spent K320 million on celebrations held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in 2023.
A review of the previous 10 years shows that whenever grand celebrations failed to happen, the nation instead held State-funded national prayer events.
Malawi gained independence from Britain on July 6 1964
