Government has consoled families of people who died on March 3 1959, popularly known as martyrs, with K15 million each.
At least 61 people died that day and 31 came from the North.
Speaking during Martyr’s Day celebrations in Nkhata Bay on Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera said he had instructed the ministries of Local Government and Justice to facilitate the payments.
He said: “Ndiye pofuna kuti ife ngati dziko tizikumbukira kuti tiri ndiudindo otonthoza mabanja omwe anataya okondedwa awo pa ziwawa zomwe zinachitika tsiku lalero, ndinawalamula akuunduna wotiyanjanitsa kuti agwire ntchito ndi akuunduna wazachilungamo popeza ndalama yachipepeso yomwe tingapereke kwa mabanja omwe anataya abale awo mziwawa za tsiku la lero ndicholinga chowatonthoza pamene akulira. [As a country, we have the responsibility to thank families that lost their relatives. I instructed ministries of Local Government, Culture and National Unity and Justice to source funds and provide to these families].”
Chakwera said he had also instructed the two ministries to do the same to families in the Centre and South.
Minister of Local Government, Culture and National Unity Richard Chimwendo Banda said they will make the payments to other regions shortly.
“The President has lived to his word and has consoled all the 61 families with K15 million each. Remember 31 were from North.
“On Wednesday this week, the President directed that the two ministries do the same in the South and on Thursday in the Centre,” he said.
A representative of the bereaved families James Thawe thanked government for the ‘consolation’.
Following the growing strength of the Nyasaland African Congress NAC), on March 3 1959 colonial authorities declared a State of Emergency and at least 200 NAC leaders were detained.
In Nkhata Bay, NAC leaders were arrested and packed into Mpasa Vessel, ready to be transferred to Mangochi, and eventually to prisons like Kanjedza, Chichiri and Gweru.
When their relatives heard about the arrests, they organised themselves and marched to Nkhata Bay jetty to demand their release.
However, colonial forces opened fire and 31 protesters died on the spot.
