President Lazarus Chakwera has said it would be unjustified for people to assume that the numerous challenges Malawians are facing can be resolved in the absence of unity.
The President said this yesterday at the John Chilembwe Day and Memorial Service of Worship at Providence Industrial Mission (PIM) in Chiradzulu District.
He said development is not an event that happens overnight, but rather, a mission that has to continue to be pursued with discipline and oneness from generation to generation.
Said Chakwera: “It cannot be right that either myself or everyone would proclaim that the challenges we have in this country can best be resolved by one person without every Malawian taking part.
“If we are to perceive the situation as such, it would mean we are failing to understand the vision that the Reverend John Chilembwe had for our country. As a matter of fact, Chilembwe always believed that challenges are best resolved by everyone taking part in finding solutions”.
The President’s speech was a poignant reminder that in the midst of various challenges Malawians are facing, unity remains an important element in finding solutions while at the same time a reminder of the vision Chilembwe had for a free and self-reliant nation.
Amid a quiet atmosphere compounded with emotions, despair and hope, the President, in his speech, leveraged the event to drive home important messages about Malawi’s ongoing struggle for economic and political emancipation.
He said Chilembwe’s vision for a free and equal society is still a work in progress, and that there is much work to be done to address the social and economic challenges facing the country.
The President emphasised that the vision that the nationalist had can only be achieved if Malawians work together for a common goal while allaying divisions that emerge due to numerous factors.
As part of achieving Chilembwe’s vision, and his administration’s quest to ensure the country’s ‘God-given resources’ are put to proper use, the President announced that a Chilembwe School of Excellence will be built in the district.
“This is the reason why three years ago I launched a nationwide initiative to build Schools of Excellence to give Malawians in every district the capacity to use the God-given resources in their district for development and progress.
“One of those Schools of Excellence is the Chilembwe School of Excellence that is going to be built here in Chiradzulu, which will include a football academy for boys and girls, with its own state of the art stadium featuring facilities for football, netball, basketball, volleyball, athletics, and boxing,” Chakwera said.
The President further said four months ago, he approached a group of investors from Italy who are now getting ready to bring the necessary resources for the development of the Chilembwe School of Excellence.
He said the other reason that compelled the government to construct the school was that Chilembwe believed that the key to developmental progress is using education to increase Malawi’s capacity to use the available local resources.
In his speech, PIM president the Reverend Wilson Mitambo, said there is need to do more in honouring Chilembwe beyond the January 15 prayers.
He said: “Even if it means developing this area, the people will greatly appreciate that”.
But Mitambo said Malawians need to learn from Chilembwe by emulating his hardworking spirit on the premise that he wanted Malawians to be self-reliant.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo-Banda said it is important for Malawians to understand that Chilembwe wanted them to be hard workers; hence, it is imperative for Malawians to rise to the occasion.
Unlike the previous years when the event was marred by political party supporters, this year it was peaceful. No political songs or connotations were observed, and no party followers were seen in party regalia.
Politicians were seen greeting each other and laughing together.
The mood was calm with a bit of cheering when the President spoke in some instances. The mood transitioned into an electrifying event when Chakwera gave assurances that with unity, challenges being faced will be history.
Among the notable leaders present at the event were UTM president Dalitso Kabambe, Democratic Progressive Party vice-president (South) Joseph Mwanamvekha and United Democratic Front secretary general Genarimo Lemani.
Others were Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, Inspector General of Police Merlyne Yolamu, Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
