BLANTYRE, (MaraviPost): The family of the Malawi’s founding President, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda has asked Tonse Alliance government to complete the Kamuzu Memorial Park in Lilongwe.
Phase one of the project, initiated by Malawi’s third President late Bingu wa Mutharika in 2005, saw the construction of a Mausoleum, resting place for Kamuzu Banda.
The family’s representative, Ken Kandodo extended the call during Kamuzu Day Memorial Service at the Kamuzu Mausoleum in City Centre Lilongwe on Friday, 14 May 2021.
Full design of the Kamuzu Memorial Park includes a perimeter fence, library that will books and literature about Kamuzu Banda, his personal belongings and other items defining the father and founding President.
Kandodo, therefore, asked President Dr Lazarus Chakwera led government to complete the Park, by constructing, among others, a fence, library, and ablution blocks.
He said the Park, if completed, will be attracting visitors from within and abroad, as such all facilities that were planned should be in place.
“The family of Kamuzu Banda would like to thanks late Bingu wa Mutharika for constructing the Mausoleum and a statue of Kamuzu Banda. Late Bingu wa Mutharika did a commendable job and has to be greatly honoured for what he did for our Kamuzu and our family.
“Nzako akachita bwino kumayamika, kotore Tayamika malemu Bingu kamba kokonza malowa ndi kumanga Mausoleum imenei [let’s acknowledge and give a credit where is due, we give Bingu credit for the Mausoleum,” said Kandodo.
The Mausoleum was constructed between 2005 and 2006 and it was unveiled on May 14th, 2006, which is Kamuzu Day.
He also said Mausoleum and the statue symbolizes respect for the first head of state and acts as a remembrance to Malawians.
Kandodo also took time to thank Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira for being supportive to Kamuzu Banda when he was ruling this country.
In his remarks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Michael Usi assured the family that government, through his ministry, will construct things contained in the project design once funds allocated to the ministry.
Kamuzu Banda was born in 1898 at Chinyama Village in Kasungu in the family of mayi Kupingani and David Mphonongo Banda.
He died at Garden City Clinic in South Africa on November 25, 1997 at the age of 99 having ruled Malawi from 1961 to 1994.
He was laid to rest on 3rd December 1997 in City Center, Lilongwe.
This function was precisely set aside to commemorate and celebrate HKB. Unfortunately, our current president sidetracked and turned the occasion into a political meeting where he unashamedly chose to expose his scuffles with his fellow alliance-mate. It simply showed that he was not comfortable with the ongoing whose author is himself. It is an open secret that things are not well in his administration. This is because he has taken vendetta as a priority instead of running a government. As is usually said, “Time is the best judge”. As long as he continues to cling onto his ‘Cheerleaders’ he will be taken down onto the canvas together with them. The problem is that when you lose your plot during your prime time in office, everything that follows is even more confusion. Uyu ndi Malawi wokomera tonse!!