LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-As Malawi commemorated 61 years of independence on July 6, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has called for national celebrations to be separated from partisan politics, saying only an inclusive approach will build a truly united nation.

In an interview with The Maravi Post on Monday July 7, HRCC Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba wondered as to why opposition political parties deserted this year’s independence celebrations including former President Peter Mutharika, Joyce Banda, and Dr. Dalitso Kabambe.

Mkwezalamba blamed President Lazarus Chakwera’s government for failing to create an environment conducive to the participation of all political players.

He also pointed to security concerns as a major factor discouraging opposition attendance, citing the government’s failure to release findings on the unresolved attack on activist Sylvester Namiwa and recent inflammatory remarks by the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson directed at opposition figures.

He also described how the sight of thousands of ruling party youths marching from Area 18’s Kamuzu Memorial Tower to Bingu National Stadium created an intimidating atmosphere.

“Such scenes heightened fears of possible clashes. If APM, Joyce Banda, or Kabambe had announced their attendance, their supporters would have joined them wearing party colors, and without the day being declared a truly national event, it could have turned chaotic,” Mkwezalamba warned.

He stressed the need to reform political culture in Malawi, saying the need to tame our politics so that national events belong to all Malawians, not just the ruling party.

Only then can we imagine a day when leaders from both sides share a bottle of Mahewu together in peace while celebrating our nation’s milestones. Malawi must do better, and the MCP must show leadership.”

Reflecting on the occasion, Mkwezalamba acknowledged Malawi’s progress since independence but cautioned against complacency.

“Our political sovereignty is undeniable, but economically, we remain yoked to the West,” he said.

Adding that Malawi’s continued dependence on international institutions like the IMF and World Bank has constrained true economic freedom.

However, he pointed to recent efforts to challenge these dynamics as signs of a country ready to chart a different course.

Mkwezalamba highlighted concrete progress since independence, including expanding the country’s road network from fewer than 400 kilometers of tarmacked roads in 1964 to thousands of kilometers today, achieving food self-sufficiency, and beginning to invest in the mining sector.

“If we change our mindset to positive thinking and living, we are heading in the right direction,” he noted.

He also reflected on the significance of Botswana’s participation in the celebrations. Coming off the back of Botswana’s peaceful election that ended a 30-year administration, Botswana’s president used his platform as guest of honor to urge Malawians across the political divide to embrace tolerance and respect the will of the people in the upcoming September elections.

“Conflicts rise when there is no tolerance or when people choose to act against the will of the people,” the Botswana leader warned an appeal Mkwezalamba described as timely and essential for Malawi’s stability.