The Government has repealed its earlier decision of spending K244 million on Independence Day celebrations instead the budget has been reduced to K50 million.

On Wednesday, Chairperson of the organising committee Richard Chimwendo who is also Minister of Homeland Security announced the budget for the 57th Independence Day celebrations which was scheduled to be held in Mzuzu, Blantyre and Lilongwe.

However, the decision has also been reversed and as it stands the government says the celebrations will only be held in Lilongwe and only 200 people will patronize the event.

The decision has been arrived after Tonse Led government received heavy criticism from some sections of the society.

Among others, people questioned the  government decision  to organise celebrations in the face of the public health emergency that is COVID-19, job losses in major industries, corruption and when hospitals are threadbare and struggling to cope.

On July 6, Malawi clocks 57 years since its independence.

Attendant to the celebrations, under the theme ‘Building an Inclusive Wealth and Self Reliant Nation through Mindset Change and Servant Leadership’ will be strictly by invitation.