The legacy of Malawi’s founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda loomed large yesterday, with speakers pointing to him as an example effective leadership in a general election year.
In his sermon during Kamuzu Day commemoration in Mzuzu, newly-installed Mzuzu Catholic Diocese Bishop Yohane Nyirenda decried selfishness among political leaders and public servants and urged them to emulate the example of Malawi’s founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Nyirenda noted that some of the politicians and public servants were prioritising personal gains while others were working to please their masters at the expense of improving people’s welfare.
Said Nyirenda: “What is the reason for our ambitions? Do I want to be close to the President, to the king or any position? Ask yourself, why? Is it for my own good, or the good of the country or the good of all Malawians?
“Or, is it my own selfish desires and selfishness that move me? Whoever wants to be a leader must be ready to be a servant of all people. He or she must be other oriented and not self-oriented.”
He said Kamuzu tried his best to develop the country, indicating that he was a leader not associated with substandard output, but durable things that have stood the test of time.
Said Nyirenda: “Kamuzu was a serious leader and when he said this will be done, he meant exactly that. Kamuzu was a courageous person. He could call a spade a spade when things were not right.
“He never wanted a chaotic way of living in the country. We need to promote peace and coexistence. We must think beyond our tribe, our party and our region. Let us stop the violence going on due to differences in political affiliation.”
Representing the Kamuzu family, Kasungu Central legislator Ken Kandodo hailed the first Malawian leader as someone who believed in agriculture, durable roads and quality education.
Taking his turn, Malawi Congress Party secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda said all development foundations were already laid by Kamuzu and hailed President Lazarus Chakwera for continuing the legacy of Kamuzu.
On his part, the President said Malawians owe a lot to Kamuzu for laying a strong foundation upon which a prosperous nation for all can be built.
He said he is determined to restore the foundations of Kamuzu and make Malawi a place where dreams are made possible by opportunities.
Former president Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration reinstituted the Kamuzu Day on May 14 as a public holiday and scrapped Freedom Day—the day the Bakili Muluzi administration set to reflect on the June 14 1993 National Referendum that ushered in multiparty democracy.
