President Lazarus Chakwera has singled out culture, hope, honesty and peace as some of the lost values that need to be restored to fix the economy and spur development in the country.

Chakwera has made the remarks at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, during the 61st Independence Celebrations; an event that attracted people from all walks of life, including Botswana’s president Duma Boko.

"Ask any builder, he will tell you laying foundations takes time, and requires patience. Making foundations in haste results in catastrophes because a house without a firm foundation cannot stand," he stressed.

The Malawi leader bemoans that both public and private sectors are being robbed of resources through vandalism, a thing which he said can be corrected by building a culture trust and integrity.

President Chakwera further encouraged Malawians to have hope, saying it helps people to come out of trying situations as victors, and also appealed to people to stop backbiting.

"There some people who have nothing good to say about Malawi. If people are not careful in their doings there is nothing good that will happen to Malawi," he warned.

However, Chakwera mentioned of true repentance and mindset change, as solutions to the damaged foundations.

To his part, visiting President Boko emphasized that the prevailing challenges including poverty, are a test to the worth of local leaders, and challenges them to come up with solutions.

Boko, who was guest of honour at the commemorations, hinted that small acts of courage from people have the power to bring economic transformation.

He said: "Malawi we ought to be a prosperous and inclusive nation, we are not there yet we are on our way there."

Religious, and traditional leaders, the diplomatic community, and politicians were in attendance at the main event marking 61 years of the country's self-rule at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

This year's independence commemorations took place under the theme, "Restoring Broken Foundations; Taking Malawi Forward".
Malawi gained independence from Britain on July 6, 1964.