President Lazarus Chakwera’s announcement that his government plans to construct a befitting mausoleum for freedom fighter and founder of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Orton Ching’oli Chirwa has earned him praise from commentators.

Speaking on Thursday in Nkhata Bay where he presided over this year’s Martyrs Day Memorial Service Worship Service, he also said government will construct an international airport and library in the Northern Region in honour of the fallen hero.

Chakwera lays a wreath at the memorial pillar on Thursday

The president, who described Chirwa as a man beyond his time, said the construction of the airport, library, modern mausoleum, houses for security officers for the library and mausoleum will start soon.

Said Chakwera: “Chirwa was a man beyond his time, a man of great vision, a man of formidable courage, a man with a towering intellect, a man of principle, a man of peace, a patriot at heart, and a true Malawian.

“This son of Nkhata Bay served his country and gave Malawi his best and the full measure of his devotion. We honour him today, for we owe him more than we can ever repay, and we pray that he continues to rest in peace.”

Chirwa, born on January 30 1919, was Malawi’s first black barrister and became minister of Justice and Attorney General in 1964 after the country attained independence from Britain.

Munthali: This is new MCP

In July 1964 after the Cabinet Crisis, he fled the country to Tanzania, but was allegedly abducted by MCP mercenaries on the Zambian border in 1981 into Malawi where he was tried for treason at a traditional court in 1984.

Chirwa was found guilty and condemned to death, but due to pressure, Malawi’s founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. He died at Zomba Maximum Prison on October 20 1992, a year before the historic referendum that ushered in multiparty democracy.

Ironically, speaking on Thursday in Nkhata Bay where he led this year’s Martyr’s Day commemorations, Chakwera, who in 2020 led the MCP back in government after 26 years, spoke highly about the fallen hero.

But in an interview on Thursday, Lost History Foundation director of research Paliani Chinguwo hailed Chakwera’s proposal, saying it was commendable to recognise heroes who fought for the country’s freedom.

Thindwa: MCP is rebranding

He said: “First because Chirwa is the first president of the party that Chakwera leads today as a partner of Tonse Alliance in government.

“Second, Chirwa is a hero and a martyr.”

Chinguwo said his organisation has been advocating for the recognition of the country’s heroes and martyrs.

He said: “The government should also move to conduct decent burials for other heroes such as Masauko Chipembere [buried in USA], Dr. Atati Mpakati [buried in Zimbabwe] and Mkwapatila Mhango [buried in Zambia].

“The remains of such great heroes and martyrs need to be exhumed and repatriated to Malawi for State burials and honours befitting heroes.”

Chinguwo also called for the need to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction and death of Chirwa in prison on October 20 1992.

A political commentator, Ernest Thindwa echoed Chinguwo’s sentiments, saying Chakwera realises MCP’s torturous record and has always attempted to give the party a changed and positive image with a good measure of success.

He said the President’s visit to Chirwa’s tomb and promise to construct a befitting mausoleum is significant in a number of dimensions.

Said Thindwa: “First, the party rebranding is critical if MCP is to acquire national as opposed to traditional regional appeal.

“Second, the demands of the 50% +1 provide sufficient incentives for political parties to search for votes beyond their traditional core electoral support bases.

“The North, which seemingly has no fixed electoral preference, is a potential area for exploring by potent electoral entrepreneurs.”

He dismissed the assertions from some quarters that Chakwera may have made the promise to reconcile his party with those it allegedly wronged during the one party-State regime.

“The initiative by the President should be seen, among other considerations, in the context of the party attempting to cleanse itself from the politically undesirable historical image designed to attract broad-based support in an increasingly competitive electoral market place,” said Thindwa.

But when asked whether Chakwera’s plans were intended to atone for the party’s past wrongs, MCP publicity Secretary the Reverend Maurice Munthali said Chirwa’s resting place deserves a mausoleum because of his contribution to the Malawi nation.

He said Chirwa was not arrested or made to die in prison under MCP as it is put, but he was arrested by the then government’s system.

Said Munthali: “President Chakwera has always said that the Malawi Congress Party we see today can and should not be equated to the one that was running Malawi at that time, particularly when it comes to listing of atrocities people were subjected to under the one party rule.”

He said the Chakwera-led government does not only emphasise on the rule of law, but also wants to ensure the country is united by healing any wounds that might have been occasioned on anybody by whatever means.

However, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa declined to comment on government’s commitments to honour Chirwa.

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