Founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s ceremonial birthday May 14 has turned divisive with opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) planning a separate commemoration, accusing the government of sidelining its leader Lazarus Chakwera.
Kamuzu Day is a public holiday in Malawi and the State holds a memorial service. In the recent past, the Head of State has been in attendance, however President Peter Mutharika has this year delegated Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata to represent him.
The delegation has purportedly created a protocol fix that prompted organisers not to invite immediate past president Chakwera, a decision MCP feels is irrational as he leads a party Kamuzu also led for over three decades.
Briefing the media in Lilongwe yesterday, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda said the erstwhile governing party engaged the government upon noting that Chakwera had not received an invitation.
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He said the government team informed MCP that Mutharika would not attend the commemorations and had instead delegated Gangata; hence, creating “protocol complications” regarding Chakwera’s participation.
“We’ve been told that since the President has delegated the minister, therefore, our party president cannot be invited as he would, in an ideal situation, be a guest to the President,” said Chimwendo Banda.
He said MCP had appealed for reconsideration, arguing that Kamuzu Day holds deep historical significance for both the nation and the party.
“Kamuzu is the father and founder of the Malawi nation but also father of the MCP,” he said.
However, Chimwendo Banda thanked both Chakwera and Mutharika for supporting Kamuzu Day commemorations over the years.
In an interview, MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila confirmed that the party would proceed with its own prayers after the official function to avoid confrontation.
“Kamuzu Day is a very special day for us. It’s one of the days we highly mark on our calendar because that’s when we remember the father and founder not only of this nation but also of the Malawi Congress Party,” she said, urging the party’s supporters to respect the State event.
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba, who is the official government spokesperson, could not be reached for comment yesterday on several attempts.
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said although the ministry is a policy holder of such events, the responsibility to issue invitations rests with the Department of National Public Events which had earlier referred us to the ministry.
The commemoration is set for Kamuzu Mausoleum next to Parliament Building at City Centre in Lilongwe where there will be prayers and laying of wreaths on his tombstone. It is slated to start at 10am.
Earlier in the week, Kamuzu family representative and former Cabinet minister Ken Kandodo appealed to political party representatives to avoid wearing party colours at the event.
Reacting to the development, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said Kamuzu Day should unite Malawians rather than deepen political divisions.
“Kamuzu was Malawi’s founding president and a symbol of nationhood whose legacy belongs to all Malawians irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
Kondowe said while protocol considerations were important at State functions, commemorations of national figures should promote inclusivity and statesmanship.
He also commended MCP for urging restraint among its supporters.
Governance activist Moses Mkandawire said Kamuzu Day should provide an opportunity for Malawians to reflect on both the achievements and shortcomings of Banda’s rule.
“Our children ought to learn and appreciate who Dr Banda was with regard to the struggle for independence as well as how he governed this country. There were positives as well as negatives that we all ought to draw lessons from,” he said.
But Mkandawire disputed claims by MCP politicians that Kamuzu founded MCP, arguing that the party was initially established by figures such as Orton Chirwa, Augustine Mnthambala, Aleke Banda and Shadreck Khonje after the banning of Nyasaland African Congress before Kamuzu returned home and assumed leadership.
Kamuzu Banda died on November 25 1997, three years after losing Malawi’s first post-independence multiparty elections, which ended his three-decade rule.
