In a dramatic and emotionally charged address that could have stirred the very soul of Kamuzu himself, President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera took center stage at Mzuzu Stadium today, not just to remember Malawi’s founding father—but to resurrect him in spirit, legacy, and ambition.
With thunderous applause from thousands of patriotic hearts—chiefs, clergy, civil servants, students, and MCP diehards among them—Chakwera declared that the years between 1994 and 2020 were nothing short of a national tragedy. According to the President, successive governments during that time did little more than dismantle, destroy, and disrespect the towering foundations laid by the indomitable Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
“It is heartbreaking,” Chakwera lamented, with a tone that pierced the crowd, “that after Kamuzu built this nation brick by brick, others came only to tear it down. But let it be known—my government is not here to mourn the ruins. We are here to rebuild them all.”
And with that, Kamuzu Day 2025 was more than a celebration—it became a bold political statement.
This year’s theme—“Kamuzu: The Benchmark of Servant Leadership, Uniting Malawians and Prospering Together”—was brought to life in every moment of the event. From vibrant traditional dances to soul-stirring worship, from roaring live bands to the thunder of football boots between Mzuzu City Hammers and Civo Service United, the celebration was as much about the past as it was about the future.
But make no mistake—this was no ordinary tribute. This was a masterclass in statesmanship, where Chakwera—steeped in respect for the past and fiery in his vision for tomorrow—stood tall in the shoes of Malawi’s first and most powerful leader. Surrounded by top officials like MCP First Deputy President Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, Higher Education Minister Dr. Jessie Kabwila, and Culture Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda, the message was clear: Kamuzu’s spirit lives on—and Chakwera is its modern vessel.
Kamuzu Banda, who led Malawi to independence in 1963, served as Prime Minister and then President until 1994. A giant among giants, his name echoes alongside Africa’s most legendary liberators—Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, and Kenneth Kaunda. His death in 1997 did not end his influence—it only paused it.
Now, in 2025, President Chakwera has hit “play” again.
As the sun set over Mzuzu, one thing was certain: Kamuzu may be gone, but his legacy—under Chakwera’s watch—is rising from the ashes. And with that rise comes a nation reclaiming not just its history, but its hope.
