BY SAMUEL KALIMIRA:
Cold weather could not stop people from all walks of life to gather at Mzuzu State Lodge Friday for prayers organised as part of this year’s 54th Independence Day cerebrations.
However, missing at the event were Vice President Saulos Chilima, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera, former president Joyce Banda and other opposition political leaders.
President Peter Mutharika was in attendance and other senior government officials were attending the prayers.
In the two sermons by Moderator of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Livingstonia Synod Reverend John Gondwe and Pastor Frackson Kuyama of Seventh Day Adventist, the clergy highlighted that the country is still underdeveloped despite clocking 54 years of self-rule.
“I went to America and I was surprised to see people [Malawians] fundraising for toilets[to be constructed] in the country[Malawi]. Are we serious that at 54, the country should still be begging money for the construction of toilets?” Gondwe queried.
At the very beginning of his sermon, Gondwe requested for a multipurpose Hall in Mzuzu City arguing it was not proper to hold events of such magnitude in a marquee at State Lodge.
“In Lilongwe people use Bingu International Conference Centre, in Blantyre there is Comesa [Hall] and it is my hope that next time Mzuzu will have PICC [Peter International Conference Centre],” Gondwe said.
Kuyama said some Malawians are unpatriotic, which is why they do not appreciate development that has been implemented by different leaders in the country.
He said development must be treated like a relay race where leaders are supposed to continue where the other stopped.
“This country belongs to everybody. We must be united. Let us love one another, with that we are going to develop our nation,” Kuyama said.
MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka said Chakwera did not attend the ceremony because he was not invited.
“Our president could not impose himself on the event which he could not be recognised. They organised the event as DPP and not as a nation,” Mkaka said.
Banda’s spokesperson Andekuche Chanthunya said the former president did not attend the ceremony because she is out of the country.
Efforts to speak to Chilima’s spokesperson Pilirani Phiri proved futile as he was not responding to his mobile phone.
Other notable people who graced the occasion include former vice president Khumbo Kachali, Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, cabinet ministers, ambassadors among others.
This year’s theme is Celebrating Unity, Freedom and Progress through Patriotism, Integrity and Hard work.
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