Malawi pays homage to fallen heroes

Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika is this week leading Malawians in paying homage to the country’s fallen heroes from the two Great Wars of the world.

Troops from Malawi, then known as the British protectorate of Nyasaland, fought under their colonial masters from Britain in the First World War of 1914-1918 and the Second World War of 1939-1945.

Thousands of Malawians were recruited by the British to fight the Germans, Italians and the Japanese in different parts of the world under the banner of the King African Rifles battalion based in Zomba, the country’s former colonial capital city.

Speaking in the northern city of Mzuzu on Sunday, Mutharika said Malawians need to remember their fallen heroes because they fought for peace which people are currently enjoying.

"We need to remember them every year as a nation because these people lost their lives during these wars to bring peace to the world," he said.

The rest of the Commonwealth (former British colonies) officially pays homage to the war heroes on 11 November every year.