Fellow Malawians,

Receive our greetings. Today marks another important day in the history of Malawi. It is so because the people of a nation that was once considered docile have chosen to question and act. Testament to this, the government of Malawi decided to respond to our unanimous efforts and voices that have incessantly said, “we don’t want the statue of Gandhi”.

We feel that the official statement issued by the government of Malawi is defensive and does not seek to address the real issues which reflect the concerns that have been raised. It is defensive because it is a reactionary statement, not meant to inform but confuse and manipulate people into blind submission.

Firstly, the statement alludes to the fact that because there is an avenue named after Mr Gandhi, questioning the statue does not hold ground. We would like to state here that when the avenue was being named, it was during the era of dictatorship under the one party system. This would mean that people would not have questioned or stood up to the same. Today, our people, not only have the right and freedom to refuse the statue, but have the capacity to understand international politics and history.

Secondly, it is escapism from the real issues to educate Malawians on bilateral relationships Malawi holds with India and the entire international community as a defence towards the statue. This does not reflect the people’s fight. The question should be; if the statue is offered without pre-conditions by India, why does the government even bother to explain how India helps us? Is it because India expects to impose upon us its culture and values through the aid it offers?

We support international deals and development that do not bully us into giving away our pride. While, the government mentioned all that India has done and will do for Malawi, we would like to remind them that this is a mutual partnership with some benefits translating back to India. For starters there are hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals living in this country who do businesses here- If this is not to be recognized in the same measure, if not even more than the money their governments pour into our country through aid, then our government does not have faith in our capabilities as a nation.

We are now informed that the Indian government whose State Union Minister for Home affairs stated that statues of foreign leaders have no place in India. This statement was uttered following the demolition of a monument in Southern India celebrating the legacy of Russian communist icon Vladimir Lenin. In march this year, India offered a statue of their Gandhi for no pre-condition and the government of Malawi easily accepted because they believe Gandhi played a role in the struggle against colonialism in Africa. This statement is pure falsification aimed at hoodwinking the public, typical of the regime’s intolerance to people’s views. Gandhi fought for the freedom of India and nowhere in documented history did he even open his mouth to voice out support for any African struggle.

One of the questions being asked is: What did Mahatma Gandhi do for Malawi to deserve such honour? Even more, were the people of Blantyre and indeed Malawi, through relevant structures, consulted?

Having said, all these things, we feel it is important that we briefly but comprehensively address why we are against the statue and sum up our motion;

First, we believe that a statue has sentimental and emotional value to the people who erect it. If this statue is being erected in Blantyre and Malawi, do the people of the mentioned places feel the same towards Mahatma Gandhi? Evidently not, because Mahatma Gandhi has never contributed anything to Malawi’s struggle for independence and freedom. We therefore feel that the statue is being forced upon the people of Malawi and is the work of a foreign power aiming at promoting its image and dominion on the unsuspecting people of Malawi.

Secondly, we believe that statues must be erected for nation-building to bind the people of Malawi together as they remember individuals who contributed to our history. Such should be people who supported peace, unity and humanity, for example. But a history which has been hidden from the public tells a different story about Mahatma Gandhi especially when he was in South Africa from 1893 – 1914. Mahatma Gandhi championed for the better treatment of Indians at the expense of Blacks Africans. For example:

In 1893, Gandhi wrote to the Natal parliament saying that a "general belief seems to prevail in the Colony that the Indians are a little better, if at all, than savages or the Natives of Africa".

In 1904, he wrote to a health officer in Johannesburg that the council "must withdraw Kaffirs" from an unsanitary slum called the "Coolie Location" where a large number of Africans lived alongside Indians. "About the mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians, I must confess I feel most strongly."

Kaffir is racial prejudice term which was used to slur black people in the colonial and apartheid eras in South Africa. To this effect, there are ongoing protests at one of the University of Ghana campus, for example, to remove a statue of Mahatma Ghandi which was erected by the Indian government in a similar kind of agreement. Mahatma Gandhi, as we speak, is a controversial figure among those who better understand his legacy. This makes us question why BCC and the Government of Malawi are neglecting well known historical facts and bulldozing the project amid valid protests from the nation.

In July this year, President Peter Mutharika while at a rally in Rumphi pledged to this nation that he would deport any foreigner found to be racist in Malawi. In his own words he said, “I am tired of people abusing us, we are human beings too and there is no person more superior to another person. So they better stop. This is the last warning I am giving.”
We wonder then how our president is allowing the statue of racist Gandhi to be erected in Malawi after the tough stance he displayed in Mzuzu?

To sum it up, we of the Gandhi Statue Must Fall Movement, as being representatives of the people of Malawi in opposition to this statue, request the government through Blantyre City Council to rescind its decision for the above designated reasons. It should be categorically said that are we not against the development initiative, but rather are not comfortable with imperialistic and neo-colonial ideologies that seek to impose on our sovereignty foreign influence which deprives us of honour in propagation by the government of India.

Now more than ever, our nation must rise above pettiness and weakness in international deals and global balance of power because as we strive to develop our country, we must do so in terms favourable to us. This must mean that we should only accept investments, partnerships and representation on the global stage that are responsible, fair, equal, honourable, sustainable, efficient and transparent.

We would like to demand that the project to erect the statue discontinues. If indeed its funders, the Government of India, are of the same and truly interested in investing in Malawi, and nothing more, they should be able to compromise in good faith and reason for the betterment of the partnership.

Finally, we would like to send a firm message to the government of Malawi and all political leaders that times have changed. Our people will no longer tolerate greed and being taken for granted by their leaders. The present young generation of Malawi refuses to have this country sold out to foreigners for the purpose of aid; and demands that we only be part of developments that maintain our dignity and honour. Stop selling our country and its pride for your short-sighted selfish agendas.

We are ready to engage all key stakeholders in dialogue. We shall always fight for the dignity of Malawi right to the end.

For Malawi and the people of Blantyre,

Mkotama Katenga-Kaunda, Wonderful Mkhutche, Mpambira Kambewa, Pemphero Mphande, Howard Mlozi and Bright Mlombonji Chiswamtawa.
Mahatma Gandhi Statue Must Fall Movement

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