President Arthur Peter Mutharika says while there was nothing wrong in people celebrating their culture, but people should be on the look-out against politicians who are bent at using cultural identity to divide people.
The Malawi leader was addressing a mammoth croud that thronged Mulhako wa Alhomwe Headquarters at Chomwe in Mulanje for this year’s annual festival.
“Malawi’s cultural diversity makes this country beautiful. However, it becomes a problem when some failed politicians use culture to send people to beat or kill other people, that is not Malawian,” said Mutharika.
The President, therefore, urged Malawians to be peaceful and love each other saying people must live above hate.
“I know there are some people who don’t want peace. They have gone on rampage destroying schools, burning them,” he said.
He then asked his supporters not to retaliate when attacked by people sent by what he called failed and frustrated politicians.
Held under the theme ‘Embracing Cultural Diversity and Unity among Tribes’, this year’s festival honoured Mulhako wa Alhomwe’s first patron, former president Bingu wa Mutharika, former chairperson Bright Mangulama, first
Lhomwe Paramount Chief Nkhumba of Phalombe and Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa, all of whom are deceased.
The group’s chairperson Leston Mulli described the four as patriarchs of the Lhomwe Tribe in Malawi
“These people played different roles. Mutharika [Bingu], founded the cultural group and worked hard to make it what it is today. Mangulama was the driving force who ensured that it maintained the momentum while the late Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa was instrumental in preserving our culture,” said Mulli.
Taking his turn, organising chairperson James Chuma hailed both local and international traditional who graced the occasion.
Among those who came were Ngoni Paramount Chief Mpezeni and Chewa chief Kalonga Gawa Undi both fromZamba.
