Nephew to the artist, Francis Sauka has told Zodiak that for 32 years, they have been approaching government on their plight, however, nothing has happened including a 2002 pledge of constructing two houses for the family.

The nephew has disclosed that currently Sauka's wife and the only surviving sister Matilda are failing to afford daily meals, school fees for the children, proper shelter and let alone putting up a proper tombstone for the revered composer at his Majawa Village in Balaka.

"On Michael Sauka's funeral in August 1990, government made it clear that it would take care of the family and his tombstone to appreciate his great art to the nation", he said.

He therefore said, "the family wants government to stop using the prayer as the National Anthem because it has not been appreciating work of the hero."

Monument and Culture Director, Dr. Lovemore Mazibuko while indicating that government is not in possession of any records of the said pledges, he has urged the relations to be patient as government is in the process of developing guidelines to honour fallen heroes.

"We are aware of the contribution that Michael Sauka did to the nation. But there are processes that we do follow when honoring people of that caliber. Right now, I can say that we are in the process of developing guidelines that will enable us to identify all the individuals that might have contributed in a special way, to the development of the country," Mazibuko said.

Mazibuko has also disclosed that apart from the guidelines, government is also in the process of identifying the Hero's Acre.

The Malawi National Anthem was adopted in 1964 after Michael Sauka emerged a winner of the fine composition in a competition.