Malawian flag change prompts prosecution threat

August 17, 2010

Last week's official changing of the Malawian flag has been followed by warnings from the government that anyone caught displaying the old flag will be arrested and prosecuted.

The stark warning came less than a week after the official change and was prompted by the sight of many official buildings and government offices still flying the old flag.

President Bingu wa Mutharika said the old flag was holding them in the past and needed to be amended. "We cannot permanently live in the past. The new flag depicts the status of our development," he said.

The old banner showed a sun half risen, while the new one shows it completely risen to reflect Malawi's change from a developing to a developed nation. Information Minister, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, said there were no excuses for flying the old flag as the new ones were readily available in government stores.

The policy seems likely to result in a number of arrests, with the new flag struggling to find immediate favour with many people, largely due to the cost. A group of Catholic priests released a statement last week, saying, "We have to change everything that bears the old flag. We could have better usage for that money considering that this year some parts of Malawi will starve."

Last week, many football supporters wrapped themselves in old flags at an African Nations Cup football qualifier, telling police, "Arrest all the players for their kit also sports the old and real flag."