For the first time in the history of an independent Malawi, the government will not be leading people in celebrating the usual July 6 independence celebrations.
Instead, there will only be national prayers. The reason behind this decision is that government says it wants to save money.
We all know how we struggled as a nation to get our independence. The British had colonized us for over six decades.
The British colonial government was led into Malawi, then Nyasaland, by the Christian missionaries. It established their rule across Malawi. Although it faced resistance from Chiefs M’mbelwa, Mwase, Mponda, Chikumbu, Makanjira and Gomani, it brutally crushed them down.
Nearly a decade later Rev. John Chilembwe led what is famously known as the 1915 uprising, the first of its kind in Malawi and Africa. He was not satisfied with how the British chose to involve the Black people in WWI and also the Thangata system, where people would work for free in the farms and estates of the White man. He unsuccessfully led an armed uprising which ended up with him being killed in Mulanje, as he was about to cross into Mozambique.
After this event, the beginning of the Native Associations was another attempt we made towards fighting the colonial government. The first of these were the North Nyasa Native Association, formed in 1912 and the West Nyasa Native Association, formed in 1914. These were formed for three reasons: First, to have the colonial government know the African opinion, second, to have the Africans know the laws introduced by the government, and last, to provide a platform where Africans could discuss their general and special interest.
It was on this existing platform that the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) was formed in 1944. Its formation can be credited to the Representative committee of the North Nyasa Native Association. The people had grown conscious of the need for political independence, a spirit that was present in other African countries as well. Some people, under NAC, later renamed to Malawi Congress Party (MCP), started actively discussing ways of how they can achieve this. It was from these discussions that it was decided that Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda be called back to lead the movement.
Thus he came on July 6, 1958 to fight for independence and challenge the imposed federation of Nyasaland and Rhodesia. The direct consequences of fighting the White colonial establishment were deaths of common people across the country, especially when a state of emergency was declared in March 1959, and the imprisonment of the leading political leaders like Dr. Banda himself, Orton Chirwa, Aleke Banda and Masauko Chipembere.
Space cannot be enough to expand on the brutality that happened then. But the people fought hard together with their leaders to end British rule that had dominated affairs in almost half of the world. Equipped with, probably, the best political minds, leaders and generation ever, independence became a reality on July 6, 1964 when Malawi became a republic and Dr. Banda as its first President under the MCP.
What happened for the next three decades after that is entirely another history. But when talking about our independence, the period that is much reflected on is between May, 1891 and July, 1964. This is the journey that can be described as ‘From Protectorate to Independence’. What characterized this period was a people who were willing to fight for their country and a British government that was ready to use any force to maintain its grip on power.
Lives were lost. These people were not doing it for their immediate benefit. They looked at the large picture, the independent Malawi. Thus in their present skull and bones state, in both marked and unmarked graves, in spirit, they are still with us. Our duty is to make sure that as they look down upon us, they should see our greatest use of their blood and flesh sacrifice they willingly gave.
But the Malawi story has greatly been shaped by other powerful political forces. A good example is the Cold War, the ideological fight between the USA and the USSR after WWII. The government of Dr. Banda was caught and shaped by it. His open anti-communist rhetoric made him friends with the West. Despite his poor human rights record, they continued providing him with financial, military and political support until December 1989, when the Cold War came to an end with the fall of the symbolic Berlin Wall.
Dr. Banda and his government had lost its relevance and were abandoned by its former allies. The exposure it had to endure after this led to it being defeated in the pro-multiparty democracy referendum in June 1993 and subsequently the first multiparty general elections a year later, May 1994. But the story of independence does not end there. Actually, its relevancy would start being questioned even more. [End of part one]
About the writer: Wonderful Mkhutche is a speech writer, a political scientist and a manuscript editor and developer.
No, we don’t need ‘independence celebrations’, we need to start understanding what independence means … and that means paying our own way through life. We need to start producing enough food to feed the people; we need to stop deforestation; we need to develop industries where we can actually earn forex; we need to drastically reduce the civil service wage bill and start living within our means; we need to start educating our children – truly educating them to take their role in the future of the nation, not just teaching them to recite facts, parrot fashion; we need to stop relying on donors for continual handouts; we need to regain our pride and stop treating our country like one enormous litter bin; we need to start taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions. What we really don’t need are expensive ‘independence celebrations’, the country coming to a standstill whilst the President’s ridiculously bloated convoys drive past, MPs who get paid a salary and then insist on being also paid an ‘attendance allowance’ whether or not they bother to attend parliament, ghost workers, thieves who steal our (donor given) drugs, people who kill albinos because of stupid outdated superstitions ….. I could go on and on – but what we really don’t need are ‘independence celebrations’ because we are by no means independent.
Kamuzu akuyamikilidwa chifukwa anaduwa peter nawe ukaduwa athu ndipamene azaziwe zomwe umafuna iye sananane kuti akuseva ndalama koma amati tilipephelele dziko LA Malawi kuti mulungu atipase zelu zoti athanilane ndivuto laxachuma ,winawe ungogundika ndikutukwa unabadwa kuchokela kwa muthu kapena galu ,mukumuweluza muthu pazolakwa zake ndiye ukukatukwanaso mulungu akuvelani?peter 2019 boma
Kaya zanu izo, ine ndugwila ntchito kno. Inu bha nyozanan choncho
Ndalilira Malawi; ndakhulupilira kti sitinafike pa ufulu ozilamulira cifukwa kufika dzaka 52 kunena kuti boma lilibe ndalama loti tikondwere mzinthu zacisoni kwambiri; inde paliponse pamakhala kti pali 6July kma monga ana akamodzi zimakoma tikakumana pamodzi mkukondedwera cifukwa olo zaka zapitazo ukamalowa pagate yaku stadium kulandira juice n ban zimakhala zinthu zonyadisa kwambiri, kuteleco olo akanangoti apange masewero ampira okha ndim,mene zinthu zikuvutilamu anthu akanakondwelabe; enafe tinaziwa 6july kamba kti timkatengedwa kupita kumalo ameneaja… Nanga asilikali tizingowaona pa mademo nanga nanga poti mpira uliwonse umakhala olipira zomwe amphawife sitingakwanise; mchifukwa pena pake Bakili amkangotiuza kti walipira stadium tikawonere mpira ulelele kaya zimakhala ndalama zathu zomwe kmabe sitimadanda poti timakaonelanso ndife tomwe..
No independence celebrations is a very good idea , nothing wrong . President Mogufuli of Tanzania did the same last year to serve money spent on these mediocre celebrations where only a few enjoy these so called celebrations. We are independent , the British left , we have the freedom, the country & celebrations for what? We dont need these celebrations, we need money in our pockets not singing & dancing and ending up with no food at home.. Thumbs up Mr President for coming up with this idea though borrowed from Mogufuli. You are maturing into a leader of the people. Our economy is in shambles prayers will at least change the face of the country. BRAVO.
keep records, this is not the first time!!!!!!
Malawi needs Magafulifying, thats the solution
You could have cerebrated even at home
Ndakumvan Guys.ndithana nalo bvuto limeneli.kkkkkkkkk
What 4?
This country is full of envy.
Amalawi mukuganiza kuti nde kumapemphereko sanaononge zindalama zankhaninkhani? Muzava akazasemphana mamezedwe
Amalawi mukuganiza kuti nde kumapemphereko sanaononge zindalama zankhaninkhani? Muzava akazasemphana mamezedwe
Abale Is this the way zizikhalira
My vote its working now
Mlakho
Waganiza bwino mr p posaikako zimagulezi zi:angotha thala zithu zaziiii
It is not the first time, evine ing 1994 there was no celebration
Independence celebration ili kwathu mubwele nose kkkk
Zabwino ndiziti.tikapsa mtima tisaweluze .tikakondwanso tisalonjeze khalani ana amulungu pakupewa kunyoza ena
Manyi akowo uzipanga ndi hule lakolo kwanu osati ku stadium yaagogo anga kamuzu ayi wamva iwe mutharika
6 July 1964 Till Date 6 July 2016! Tili Paufulu Odzivutikila,Kodi Mudali Ona Kuti Khanda La Dzaka 50 Loyamwa,Lokwawa??
Galu wa munthu ameneyu eti ndisazakupeze uzaonanso iweyo peter
Ine muli bemo coz ndi li kutali
Eeeh 6 july imeneyo
this is first time for me since I waz born here in malawi to suspend independence celebrations,izi ndi nkhanza zazikulu ndipo ndakwiya nazo kwambiri,ndalama zake ziti palibezo munthu ndi chinyama chofunika kusangAlalacho ndiye mukuti chani makaPe,tinthana celebrations ngosayamba olo tili m’maluzi ponderezani nthawi yanu,ife timafuna mpira wa ulere pa stadium all other presidents were doing that za mAluzi mpaka lero kutikhumatitsa chonchi taonera inu tachivomereza komabe aaaaaaaaaah
kumbukilani bwino zinacitikapo ndi muluzi
Malawi kuchuluka zoyankhula, akanangopangaso zisangalalozo mukanamva, anthu tili ndi njala ndiye nkumapangaso ma phwando mmalo mothesa njala ayamba za 6 July,, ndiye mumafuna boma lizipanga chani
Go celebrate with ur families
Mulankho kulibenso chaka chino.ndalama zamvuta pamalawi
Mad president
I like it guys, going the Tanzanian Magufuli way. Let’s go out & sweep our streets clean, instead of burning Millions of Kwachas for a mere Independence Celebrations. Is this the last 6th July to come???? And how does a poor Malawian in the village benefits frm the so called Celebrations? Isn’t it jst the Platform Decorators & the Chitenje Printers who gets paid at the of the day?
Ku America kulibe celebration ya 6 July…ndiye ichitike chifukwa choti ali pa mpando ?
teachers r on strike, there r shortage of drugs in public hospitals so why celebrating while we have problems which needs the same money to be ended
adaferanji kamuzu mayo koto! ukadazakatha akhakhathawa ka..
You cant celebrate on an empty stomach if u do its like aslap into the face of poor Malawians ,we dont need this celebrations cos it means nothing to ahungry nation
To them who need but what i know is,its just to remember the day if you do not have it has gone like that.to me i know it and its not my first time so no need to force some one to do for you its your own like what you need it amen.
Nde yake .
Peter masende ake!
Chamba chija otsatsiya bwana chidusebeee!
zachita bwino tikawonele mpira wa manoma ife.
Kalero zimasangalatsa kumakhala international games, magule amakolo even prayers
Nkanakondwa achikhala ndalamazo akumaseva for service delivery km vuto ndalama zomwe akuti akufuna kusevazo ndizoti adzagawana akuluakulu okha! It does nt make any difference @ all! Nchimodzimodzi kuchita transfer mphunzitsi wa nkhanza from Ndata primary xul to Nankhundi primary xul! Mwangosamutsa vuto osati mwathana ndi prblm. Apapa angochepetsa namba ya a2 odya nawo ndalamazo sikuti aseva ndalama
Watchula ma xool akwathu ndiwe wakomweko?
Exactly
We have reached a critical condition where by a serious doctor is required. A situation which Malawi has never experienced, only shows that our country is at a stand still. Palibe chimene chikuyenda I really think Kamuzu was better off .
do the doner help to this celebration lf the Gorv say doent have money how come?
Which means this guy is wiser than all our previous president’s including# Kamuzu? because every year we celebrate this day and what happened now he wants to put this money into his pocket? good decision to pray for those who lost their lives at that time but we celebrate their souls.
Thats fact brah
@ #jomo
What about prayers? Mupange mnyumba mwanu celebration yo.
Ndi bwino President uyo akanakhala kunyumba osapita panja coz iyeyo alandilaso ma alawance coz ayenda kupita Kumsokhano, akut aku saver chuma palibe chomwe a saver, why they lie to the pipo Mr President try to do the right thing, like Bingu did were u sit today, God bless Malawi
Zachamba mwazidziwa liti zimenezo kuti tisamakhale ozolowela zinthu za kale ndani amasintha chikhalidwe chathu
Kupemphera? Kut Mulungu awathandize kupondereza osauka powabera ndalama1, kuwamana mankhwala muzipatala2, kuwawumbuza ndi misonkho yazaoneni kwinaku katundu akukwera tsiku ndi tsiku. Tsoka amphawi, shaaaaaa!
ayelekeza kupanga mulakho wa alomwe
Kupemphera? Kut Mulungu awathandize kupondereza osauka powabera ndalama1, kuwana mankhwala muzipatala2, kuwawumbuza ndi misonkho yazaoneni kwinaku katundu akukwera tsiku ndi tsiku. Tsoka amphawi, shaaaaaa!
Zili bho
Kupemphera? Kut Mulungu awathandize kupondereza osauka powabera ndalama1, kuwamana mankhwala muzipatala2, kuwawumbuza ndi misonkho yazaoneni kwinaku katundu akukwera tsiku ndi tsiku. Tsoka amphawi, shaaaaaa!
Or mupange or musapange. I dont c the difference. How can we celebrate independence while we depend on donors. The word independence means kudziimira paife tokha popanda kudalila anthu ane kapena maiko ena. Malawi tikudalira chithandizo chochokera kumaiko ena and u want to use that help careless. That money must be used on better thing than zopanda pake.
is true Malawi celebrate 4th anivesalry independent 2years from late prof Bingu and 2years to prof peter no any donar help Malawi why government fail
Achita bwino njala yonseyi,,,,,kumapeto muziti awonpnga ndalama
is true Malawi celebrate 4th anivesalry independent 2years from late prof Bingu and 2years to prof peter no any donar help Malawi why government fail
But the same govt can take more than 100ple to the UNGA. Why not starting saving by then. This is a lame excuse this time around. I don’t buy this shit. With or without celebrations the money will be pocketed.
Thats ur opinion though it doesnt mek sense!
Good move i hop that continues
inu nomwenso muziti akuononga ndalama mmalo mopanga chitukuko china…. 6th July celebrations cost government alot of money guys lets appreciate!
Mmalo moyamikira boma kut laganiza bwino ati ayi zalakwika, Malawi sazathekad.
Celebration or No celebration.To me is the same no difference.Eee! welele!
Ndiyetu mumuuzetu president wanuyo kuti asamapangeso misonkhano coz akuyenera kusamala ndalama
Iweyo president wako ndi ndani??
Muli n’vuto!
waiting to see the consequences of not having the celebrations!
Kuzolowela kuleledwa pachilolo eti zinthu zimasintha tsikuti ziyambila pa iye ayi
Nice the money which would Have been used they shall take it to buy medicine
Muzakumbukira mhlako wakunthyolo do not panic this is professor of law
Vuto lovotera alendotu ndilimeneri they don’t care about our heritage, 6 July is gone until mpaka mu Malawi weni weni azalowetso boma. Abale tasanduka mbuli tonse
Which heritage?? Ngati mukukana mbewa ndi zitete ndiye mukuiziwa heritage yanu???
Ngati iwe ndamako heritage yanu ndikudya Makoswe ndiye ukuganiza ndiife tomwe. You are savage
Those of you saying we want to save money and at the same time we don’t have money UNLESS you tell me that pple will not receive allowances for attending the prayers otherwise I don’t agree with you.
Malawi wakula pano uli ndi zaka migolomigolo panga nzelu zoti kwacha ikhale yamphamvu kuposa paja unali mwana panthawi ya Kamuzu
Kumasiyanisa sadaka ndi independence
Nice one,this moment no money there & people are struggling for hungry.
Hapy Birthday Malaw, Wakula Usye Kupha Albino, Usye Kuba (cashgate)., Kuyambra Lero Malawi Vomera Kt Ufit Uliko.
wat kind of celebration do u need?ku BICC kulia pemphero and thats enough….a malawi tisiye kukhala moyo wachizolowezi kuti basi mupata ku stadium ndiye kuti independence things are changing…those prayers are of grrat importance rather than kukaonela magule ku stadium
Those pple are called zitsilu I mean those who say kunja kuno kulibe Mulungu
hahaha the sam
hahaha
achimwene amene amakhulupulira Mulungu ali ndi mipingo momwe amapanga zisangalaro za masiku akuluakulu mumipingo yawo. ngati amalawi tsiku ili ndi lalikulu, lofunika kusangalala ngati amalawi osati kukapanga zomwe anatibweletsera omwe tikuti tinathana nawo zaka 52 zapitazo
Ba kambani lero mapemphero ✌
Democracy majority wins.,.hahahaha okhulupilira Mulungu tilipo ambiri.
Apa nde yake yamapemphero osati zisangalalo zadziko ayi God fist!! Mt 6v33
How com Govt failling to fund this most important day in Malawi? This is the waist regime ever as far as history is concened. What we must’nt understand is that they busy making DPP rallies. Where do they get such money for that? Believe me there is a secret game being played here and citizens will always be hopeless on their govt.