By Staff Reporter

The State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera, are today leading Malawians in celebrating the life of Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Malawi’s founding President at CIVO Stadium in Lilongwe.

Also in attendance is Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Tonse Alliance partners, government officials and thousands of Malawians from all walks of life.

Among other activities characterizing the day include a service of worship, traditional dances, live band music and other forms of skits.

Kamuzu Day was accorded national observation for the good part of his 30-year old reign.

It, however, lost national significance when he lost power in 1994 and subsequent administrations scaled it down to a mere family event.

Upon assuming office in 2020, President Chakwera brought back the significance of Kamuzu Day and restored it on the national calendar.

Kamuzu Banda is fondly remembered in Malawi as the father and founder of the nation mainly for his contribution during the agitation against British colonial rule and the attainment of independence in 1963.

He served as the country’s first Prime Minister from 1963 before becoming President a year later.

Across Africa, he is also renowned as one of the great Pan Africanists who led the independence wave on the continent together with Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia among others.