By Chisomo Phiri
President of the People’s Development Party (PDP), Kondwani Nankhumwa, has criticised the government’s decision to exclude Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President and former State President Lazarus Chakwera from this year’s official Kamuzu Day commemorations.
In a statement issued to mark Kamuzu Day, Nankhumwa describes the exclusion as regrettable, arguing that national events of such significance should promote unity and inclusivity rather than political division.
Nankhumwa says Kamuzu Day serves not only as a public holiday but also as a reminder of Malawi’s shared history and the responsibility citizens bear in safeguarding the country’s legacy.
“As we reflect, we recognise Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda as a towering figure whose leadership helped shape the foundations of independent Malawi,” he says.
He praises Banda for leading the fight for independence, which culminated in Malawi attaining self-rule in 1964, and for championing infrastructure and institutional development across the country.
“Beyond liberation, he championed a broad nation-building agenda, investing in roads, schools, hospitals, agricultural systems, and public institutions, many of which remain central to Malawi’s development story today,” says Nankhumwa .
The PDP leader also highlights Banda’s emphasis on national unity, discipline, and collective responsibility, saying his leadership helped foster a shared national identity in the early years of independence.
While acknowledging that opinions on Banda’s rule differ, Nankhumwa says the former president’s influence on Malawi remains undeniable.
He further notes the historical connection between Banda and the MCP, describing the party’s role in the independence struggle as inseparable from the country’s history.
“It is therefore regrettable that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has decided to exclude MCP President and former State President Lazarus Chakwera from the official commemoration,” says Nankhumwa.
He argues that Chakwera’s participation would have symbolised national continuity and strengthened unity, given his status as a former Head of State and leader of a party historically associated with Kamuzu Banda.
Nankhumwa adds that national commemorations should transcend partisan politics and embrace all relevant political traditions.
“Kamuzu Day should remain a space for collective remembrance rather than division,” he says.
He concludes by calling for national unity and praying for blessings upon Malawi.
