My fellow Malawians, the independence, freedom, peace and stability we are enjoying and celebrating today did not come on a silver platter. Some of our compatriots sacrificed their lives for it. It is that spirit of dedicated service and sincere sacrifice that we celebrate here, a spirit that likewise burned within our forefathers as they fought for our freedom 50 years ago. Lest we forget: Malawi, Nyasaland then, was a British colony. In 1953, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed despite African opposition. This meant that the British Government had virtually transferred its protectorate responsibility over Nyasaland to white settlers of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). However, African resistance to the federation, spearheaded by the then Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) forced the British Government to shelve the idea of federation. Eventually, Malawi received self-Governance in 1963 with Kamuzu Banda, who, in 1958 returned home from Ghana to lead in the struggle against colonialism, as Prime Minister, and on 6 July, 1964 Malawi became an independent state with Dr. Kamuzu Banda, as its first President. In 1966 Malawi became a Republic. My fellow Malawians, whether one likes or not, Kamuzu Banda was a visionary leader who laid a solid foundation for the country’s social and economic development despite ruling with an iron fist. In 1992 Malawians expressed dissatisfaction with the increasingly autocratic rule of the Malawi Congress Party under President Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda and in March 1992, the Catholic Bishops wrote a pastoral letter denouncing Kamuzu’s disregard for human rights. This led to struggle for political pluralism led by some key figures, including the late Chakufwa Chihana, who was jailed for speaking openly against Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Pressure for multiparty democracy mounted and Kamuzu consequently called for a referendum in June 1993, during which Malawians voted in favour of multiparty democracy. And on 17 May 1994, Malawians went to the polls to vote in the first ever multi party Parliamentary and Presidential Elections and His Excellency, Dr. Bakili Muluzi, was elected president of the first multi-party government after 30 years of attaining our independence. My fellow Malawians, the struggle did not end with the May 1994 elections. Malawians have been trying to perfect their independence through democratic elections that saw the country being led by Their Excellencies Dr. Bakili Muluzi from 1994 to 2004; Prof. Bingu Wa Mutharika from 2004 to 2012 (May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace), Dr. Joyce Banda through the constitution from 2012 to 2014; and now you have me.My fellow Malawians, from the history of the struggle for independence, then the introduction and experience of multiparty democracy; I want us now to draw a number of lessons, things which are necessary ingredients for the further social, economic and political development of our country.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 15:31:52 +0000
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