NO MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR FREEDOM FIGHTERS-SHABA

By Blessings Kumwenda

It has been finally confirmed that the annual memorial ceremony to remember people who died during the 20^th July mass protests in 2011 will not take place this year.

This has been confirmed by Chairperson of the deceased families, Freedom Shaba who said no preparations are underway ahead of the day.

Shaba said no one has approached them on the issue like Church and Society who got primarily involved in the last year’s preparations. He further expressed that time has also run out for the preparation process of ceremony to be undertaken.

Shaba said as believed families they are not bitter with the failure in having the ceremony this year. He said all they are waiting for is what they presented to the president and a report from Malawi Police Service on the tragedy.

Despite the failure to have the memorial ceremony this year Shaba said he does not care as the ceremony turned out to be a political tool for politicians. 

He said he does not want anybody to politicize on the deaths of their brothers and sisters who died on 20^th July. 

It has also been learnt that money amounting to more than 200 thousand Kwacha that was raised during first memorial ceremony that took place last year at Mzuzu stadium in Mzuzu where the right president Joyce Banda was guest of honor has up to date not reached the families.

According to the investigation made, the money raised on the day was collected by Church and Society a civil society organization under Synod of Livingstonia.

Shaba told this publication that tombstones have not been built up to date on the graves of the deceased as the money that could have been used for the construction of the tombstones did not reach them.

He also disclosed with shock that other people who only lost properties during the mass demonstrations have already been compensated by government while them have not received any assistance.

As church, Livingstonia synod has also confirmed the failure in having the ceremony this year.  But it has been learnt that there were plans to make the ceremony a national event.

Livingstonia synod has since asked for an extended period to respond well on the matter since Church and Society Chairperson Moses Mkandawire is not in the country.

Anti government protests towards perceived poor economic management and poor governance by the late Professor Bingu wa Muthalika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) saw at least 18 people killed, 98 seriously injured and 275 arrested.