Nkhatabay: 03/03/2024
On the commemoration of the country’s Martyrs’ Day which took place a while ago in Nkhata Bay, the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has laid wreaths on the tombs of the 1959 victims who died in the fight against the colonial government of Nyasaland.
In March 1959, 31 nationals made a determination to fight the colonialist DC and his government in Nkhata Bay.
The colonial government DC for Nkhata Bay, John Block in retaliation ordered his troops to shoot the protesters from a Mpasa ship killing 31 civilians.
This commemoration ceremony was also graced by the Vice president Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, government ministers and notable politicians like Richard Chimwendo Banda, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, Brown Mpinganjira, Kenzie Msukwa, Kondwani Nankhumwa, Symon Vuwa Kaunda and Khumbo Kachali among others.
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera urged Malawians to embrace Martyrs’ Day as a day of gratitude rather than sorrow, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by the martyrs paved the way for the country’s freedom and unity.
Speaking at the commemoration held at Nkhata Bay District Hospital Ground under the theme “Remembering Our Heroes: Upholding Their Legacy Through Unity and Progress,” President Chakwera stressed the importance of healing the wounds of the past, including ensuring compensation for the families of the martyrs.
He praised the martyrs for their bravery and highlighted the responsibility of citizens to use their resources to fight for their country’s well-being. The President also condemned unpatriotic behavior and emphasized the need to uphold Malawi’s dignity in the face of external criticism.
Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay Central Constituency, Vuwa Kaunda, expressed gratitude for the President’s presence and requested support for local development initiatives, including the construction of a hospital and police housing.
Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, commended the government’s efforts to promote food security through the establishment of mega farms across the country, linking this progress to the freedom for which the martyrs sacrificed.
Representatives of the bereaved families and Senior Chief Nkumbira thanked President Chakwera for his inclusive leadership and called for continued collaboration to address challenges facing their communities, including healthcare shortages at Nkhata Bay District Hospital.
(Dumisani Mwambazi-Mchinji)
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