Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Reverend Lazarus Chakwera today said departed South African icon Nelson Mandela’s legacy can help move Malawi forward if its leaders and servants can embrace his selflessness, peace-making, forgiveness, discipline and honesty, among others.
Chakwera said this at a press briefing at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) on his arrival from South Africa where he had gone to pay his last respects to Mandela.
Before landing, there was a scaring moment as the plane Chakwera boarded aborted landing after already touching the KIA runway and stayed in air for about 20 minutes.
Said Chakwera: “Nelson Mandela maybe buried, but his ideals resonate with human struggle. The discipline with which he led his life and South African people to give them freedom is one which we can learn from. We can make Malawi a country for all people and where everybody is valued regardless of region where one is coming from.
“He has taught us that you we can conquer hatred with love and have a society with inclusiveness. As a nation that is seeking to rebuild its foundations, it is possible that we can discipline ourselves and take the obstacles we are facing as stepping stones to the future we all want,” said Chakwera.
He said he viewed Mandela’s body on Friday at the Union Building in Pretoria where it lay in state for three days before burial on Sunday.
He said it is against the spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness and love to deny business opportunities to deserving individuals and companies who have fallen out of favour with the incumbent leadership.
“Nobody should be victimised because of change of leadership in government. In terms of development, it is critical that businesses should thrive regardless of who is in government. What we need is to embrace integrity, honesty and faithfulness as characteristics of selfless leadership,” said Chakwera.
