Chakwera leads remembrace Sunday
President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday led Malawians in honouring soldiers who fought in the two World Wars by laying wreaths at the memorial tower in Lilongwe.
Vice-President Saulos Chilima represented the President at the Zomba War Memorial Pillar while Deputy Minister of Lands Abida Mia did the honours in Mzuzu.
Remembrance Sunday, also known as Poppy Day or Memorial Day, is held on the second Sunday of November to celebrate the contribution of soldiers who died in wars and other military conflicts since the onset of World War I.
Traditionally, a moment of silence is observed around 11:11am during the occasion marked by ceremonial prayers.
During yesterday’s commemoration, Malawi also honoured its soldiers who died in various peacekeeping missions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Besides the President who was accompanied by First Lady Monica Chakwera, others who laid wreaths in Lilongwe included Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Aisha Adams, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, Malawi Defence Force Commander General Vincent Nundwe, Inspector General of Police George Kainja, Deputy Minister of Defence Jean Sendeza, Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi and ambassadors of different countries.
Chakwera was the first to lay the wreath followed by Nundwe and Kainja who jointly laid the wreaths.
During the commemoration event in Zomba attended by the Vice-President, Malawi News Agency reported that Major Alexandra Phiri said the Remembrance Day is also designed to remember all the contributions that the departed as well as ex-service soldiers made in all the country’s major operations and different operations abroad.
Besides Chilima, notable figures in Zomba included High Court of Malawi Judge Zione Ntaba who represented the Chief Justice, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako and Mangochi South legislator Lilian Patel (United Democratic Front) who represented the Speaker of Parliament.
The First World War was fought between July 28 1914 and November 11 1918 while the Second World War was between September 1 1939 and September 2 1945.
