wont write anything about independence day

I brought my pen and paper at the filling station (where am queuing for fuel) hoping to write a paragraph or two on the 47 years of independence but i just cant. Am in no celebration mood so i will not write anything. I will not tell of the mood of the people here at the filling station. A long time ago just after independence people queued on this day to see the then leader going to the stadium but now we are queuing on the same day for fuel.

I will not write about the main celebrations that took place at the Mzuzu Stadium simply because it doesn't make sense to me any more. Self rule is very important but it doesn't mean a thing when colonialism just changes hands. We are not ruling ourselves but rather we have been colonised by our own brothers. I just cant write about how difficult it has become to make ends meet in our country which is celebrating 47 years of self rule.

I will ignore the desire to write about the absence of our British brothers at the celebrations in Mzuzu. For the first time as long as my memory can carry me, they didn't even bother to send congratulatory messages. For 47 years they stood by us through thick and thin but we all of a sudden had the strength to send them packing. Despite being our colonial masters, history records that they were there when the union jack was being lowered in 1964 paving way for the new Malawi flag. They have been part of us since then.

I will not waste my blog space to talk about the achievements people are bragging about. Enough coverage has been given to them. I'd rather pack up my paper and pen and wait for another day to write about the poverty people are experiencing in the country.

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Malawians planning a big demonstration on Independence day

If you are a Malawian on Facebook you probably already know about this event making rounds on the social networking site. It is about a big demonstration slated to coincide with the commemoration of 47 years of independence on 6th July. it has been dubbed 'Demo Yakathithi pa 6 July'.

The event created by one Geuka Kumpoto has so far attracted over 2,323 attendees and it is reported to take place in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. Details of the demo are sketchy as to who is organising in the cities, starting or finishing place and who will address the people. But it seems many Malawians are eager to take part in this event based on the comments posted on the events wall.

Recently the president directed that those who plan to hold demonstrations are supposed to pay a deposit of MK2 Million Kwacha in case peoples property will be damaged, it remains to be seen if the organisers of this event have paid the deposit.

Here is the exact words written as information about the event:

Many of our freedoms have been compromised. Forex, Fuel, Water and Electricity can only be found at the State House. Zero-deficit budget is a robbery. Injuction bill is oppressive.

Enough is Enough! Time for Malawi to rise again.

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How independence day was celebrated in Muloza, Mulanje

There were people everywhere. Clad in their Sunday best clothes, they walked around the streets of the not-so-busy trading centre of Limbuli. With bottles of minerals and beer, they celebrated in a christmas style the 46 years of independence.

Thats how people celebrated Republic day in Muloza a border town in Mulanje. People always look for a reason to celebrate and 6th July gives that reason. As am writing this post there are still parties going on in various houses and people have thronged drinking joints finishing off the celebration.

I had a chat with several people who told me that people here take an example of how republic day and every holiday in neighbouring Mozambique is celebrating. There is alot of merrymaking in days like these and alot of Malawians cross the border to join their neighbours.

Am told families bought rice, chicken and many favourite foods to spice up the day in their homes. It was my first time to see 6th July celebrated in this way.

The main celebrations were held at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe where there was a display of various traditional dances, poetry, speeches, awarding outstanding Malawians in various fields and a football match between Malawi Reserve and Lesotho. Malawi won by a goal scored by Panganani Ndovie.

Happy independence day!!

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Malawi: 46 years of independence

All roads lead to Civo Stadium in Lilongwe where the President will lead the nation in commerating 46 years of Malawi's independence.

On this day in 1964, a new nation was born under the leadership of the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda. History records that Malawians celebrated the independence from our colonial masters, the British.

Since then, Malawi has seen alot of changes under the three different administrations. There are alot of positives to write about but the most important is the peace we are enjoying up to this day.

The theme for this year's celebration is 'growing a stronger nation together'. A good thing to do at this time as we are passing through challenging times as a united nation. We seem to be divided on petty issues.

Much as we celebrate that we have made strides in various areas over the 46 years, there are some areas we need to work on. The time we have been independent from the British does not reflect the development we have.

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SITILORA (WE WILL NOT ALLOW)

When i switched on my radio this morning, one local radio station was playing a track by Thomas Chibade, Sitilora. The musician urges the leaders to maintain peace that Malawi is experiencing. He goes on to sing about how wars in several african countries is affecting people. He concludes with the title of the song sitilora.

I totally agree with Chibade that as Malawians we will not allow that this country should be involved in any war. We cannot support leaders who preach about or encourage war in our peaceful country. We have seen how our friends have been affected by wars in the different countries in Africa and beyond. I had time to talk to a few people who had been directly affected by the Mozambican war both Malawians and Mozambicans. They are some who are still being affected by the what happened even after the war ended a few years back. Thats why Chibade sings that the leaders will reconcile afterwards even though our relatives have died and our property destroyed.

As we celebrate the 45 years of independence, lets put this in mind. We don't want any war in Malawi. We have been a peaceful nation save for a few acts of violence that claimed lives of fellow Malawians. We have just been rated the second peaceful country in the world. Let us maintain it.

The announcer at the local radio station seemed to know that the source of conflicts in many of the waring countries are leaders because the next song he played was Tigonjerane by Billy Kaunda. In Tigonjerane, Billy urges all Malawians to accept other people's views. He says tolerance should start in the family, churches and in political parties. There is no better time to play this song than now when we are celebrating independence a few months after we had elections. Though fair and peaceful other quarters are failing to digest the results.

We have a choice to remain a peaceful nation and continue being called the "warm heart of Africa" or follow the path of other nations. It all goes back to our day to day living, our leaders decisions and tolerance of other people's views. That's why i totally agree with Billy Kaunda and Thomas Chibade that Tiyeni tigonjerane and Sitilora kuti muyambitse nkhondo muno.

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