Every year, on 3rd March, Malawians observe Martyrs Day. It offers a fresh view of the 1959–60 Nyasaland State of Emergency; undoubtedly the most significant event in modern Malawian political history. It saw the arrest and imprisonment of a number of prominent nationalist leaders from the Nyasaland African Congress and also led to the death of patriotic Malawians in the struggle for self rule.
While the day invokes grief-stricken memories, it is the day which calls our leaders to a serious exercise of examining their actions and motives if they are in tandem with the cause that our magnanimous men and women died for. Going by the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the greatest statesmen of all time, it is the cause and not the death that makes one a martyr. In view of this, the best way to pay respect to the martyrs by the living souls is to advance their agenda.
But are our leaders advancing the just cause that the martyrs suffered for? The answer is emphatic no! While our forefathers and mothers braved the bullets and died in a quest to make Malawi a better country for all its citizens, their death was, unfortunately, succeeded by narcissistic leaders. The actions and leadership of all post-colonial presidents have completely diluted the meaning and relevance of the atypical bravery that was displayed by our freedom fighters in the struggle for independence.
Kamuzu Banda, the first president of the Republic of Malawi, completely departed from the values and ideologies of the freedom fighters. He took his own path and became a ruthless dictator. People became staple food for crocodiles and some freedom fighters who also partook in the battle against colonialism were butchered for speaking against his cruelty, dictatorship and narcissistic tendencies. So going by the Kamuzu’s leadership, the death of our martyrs was in vain. So pathetic!
After 31years in the hands of Dictator Kamuzu Banda, who ruled with an iron fist, we voted for pluralism in 1993. This quest for democratic progress was highlighted in the historic 1994 presidential election when Kamuzu lost the office to Bakili Muluzi of United Democratic Front (UDF). The dawn of democracy was charged with excitement and high expectations as everyone, seems, was optimistic of being fully represented in the national assembly. While Muluzi’s victory symbolized an evolution from authoritarian rule towards legitimate democracy, it appeared to accomplish little real change and his successors just became fixated with power and the trend continues. Nepotism, tribalism and corruption are the three pillars of the democratic governments we have had so far. In view of that, the democratic presidents have also made the death of our martyrs useless. Very painful!
However, this day offers the incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera an opportunity to reflect and do a great deal of soul searching. His predecessors were also accorded this opportunity but they missed it, and they are remembered as time wasters. This is the day the president must go into solitude and meditate. Why our forefathers braved the bullets of the colonial masters? Has Malawi, under self rule, achieved something worth soothing the souls of our brave men and women who died for a just cause? These are some of the questions Dr. Laz should ponder on if he would want to make the death of our martyrs relevant.
Malawi we have now is not the one that the martyrs envisaged. Mr President, your predecessors have done more damage than good. But we can’t keep on pointing fingers at them. We have you at the helm to steer Malawi to prosperity. You have an opportunity to soothe the souls of martyrs by walking your talk.
3rd March martyrs braved bullets, suffered imprisonment and all forms of humiliation during the fight for the freedoms and rights we enjoy today. Let’s remember and honour them by advancing their values and ideologies.
I’m a martyr in the making or a time waster? That’s the question Dr. Laz must ask himself today on 3rd March, 202, seven months after assuming the reins power.
