Malawi govt pumps K100m to fashion industry: VP’s wife hails Lilly Alfonso
Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa has assured fashion designers in the country that his ministry is working tirelessly to make sure that the fashion industry is fully supported, saying it has potential in promoting Malawi tourism.
Nankhumwa made an assurance on Friday at Bingu International Conference Center during Malawi Celebrity fashion Night where different local fashion designers converged to showcase their skills in as far as fashion designing is concerned.
He said, for any type of tourism to prosper it needs the contribution of the artistic industry.
According to the minister, government has put aside K100 million to promote the industry from the grass root level.
“We have been looking into ways on how we can promote the art from grass root level and after discussing with government we said its time now to start working with the youth who have different skills, that is why we have included it in 2015-2016 financial year budget and we believe the money will be increasing as we go along,” said Nankhumwa
Malawi vice president’s wife, Mary Chilima who was the guest of honour concurred with Nankhumwa saying Malawians have talents, a thing which cannot be overlooked.
Madam Chilima also urged all aspiring fashion designers to stay focused, believe in themselves and put God first for them to achieve their dreams.
“Now barriers are so much lower and I would like to encourage those people that are talented and they want to join the industry not to hesitate, starting with one design can really make a difference,” she said
She also thanked award winning fashionist Lilly Alfonso for her contribution to the growth of fashion industry in Malawi saying she has carried the flag of Malawi and that her designs are selling in different countries.
Speaking during the event Designer Lilly Alfonso said despite other challenges, the fashion industry is growing and has since asked local designers to pull up their socks in producing the best that can compete at the international level.
Alfonso was recently made an ambassador of I am Fashion, a fashion and designing event organised by Queen of Africa, an Amsterdam-based fashion promotion firm.
Dorine Esien of Queen of Africa, said Alfonso was chosen because of her outstanding works and contributions in African fashion with much focus on her qualities and experienced role as an African woman entrepreneur.
The Malawi’s Celebrity fashion Night was spiced up by live performances of Sipe, Tygrin, Gwamba and a poet, Que Malewezi.
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I also invite all artist to start selling there products online worldwide at shoppersmaster.com . Lets develop our country!!!
Pamene umphawi wafikapa Mmalawi Ali nthawi yokalowa mwa Lily Alfonso?Mwina Mayi Chilima amene mwamuna wake ndi mzake wapitala akungowonjola chuma cha boma.Ife timalowa pa kaunjika ndikupeza designer dress for only k2000.Mmene mavuto azachuma afikira pamalawi.I think this country we are headed with people who have no proper priorities and vision for the impoverished Malawi.Hospitals don’t have drugs.Schools are substandards.poor housing and everything is sub standard and the VP is talking useless fashion stuff by Lily Alfonso to impoverished Malawians who can hardly afford a decent meal for their family.Do u think they really care ndi mbutuma inzako kondwani Nankhumwa making… Read more »
This is insane. .malawi will never change!..kids learning under trees in the scorching heat, women dying in childbirth due to lack of resources & medication.no funds for higher education for those that need it & the government decides to donate money to fashion. . Funny how that is because madam chilima happens to be personal friends with Lilly Alfonso so it wouldn’t be a surprise learning that the money is in their pockets anyway… Why not inject it in small businesses? .. Lilly’s dress costs $100, not even in Kwacha s does she charge her products. ..who , a typical… Read more »
As a Fashion designer will do the best to do that thanks for that supports . together we can make malawi a great nation.
Inu mai Chilima timakutenga ngati munthu wa nzeru ndi woganiza kwambiri fashoni ku Malawi atemagula zimenezo ndiye ndani mtengo uli phwii mukaone imene ili pa game ku LLs very very expensive koma zosaoneka nkomwe ati kutengera za RSA. Kuononga ndalama m’malo mopanga promote culture monga wina wanena kapenanso tourism ndi angati ma tourist amene amabwera ku Malawi ndipo amagula zovala. Bolanso aziboliboli. pangani chinthu chopindulira a Malawi ambiri kusiyana ndi za uhule zomwe angapange anthu wochepa. Bomali timaona ngati mwina zinkhala ngati nthawi ya Bingu koma mwalepheretu ziwani kupanga prioties zinthu. Nankhumwayo ndi munthu amene akusokoneza zinthu kwambirnso phuma. Matourist… Read more »
Malawi is one of the poorest nations on earth and to spend 100 million kwacha on fashion show is tantamount to throwing the funds into the shire river.With myriad of economic hardships the funds could facilitate the supply of medicines in our impoverished clinics,school books for our kids and many other essentials instead of fashion shows which are not part of our cultures that we love so dearly.50 years of nationhood,we can’t develop novel notions to enhance our political and economic realities for our children,their children and the generation to come.For how long are we going to remain laughing stock… Read more »
Grossly misplaced priorities!!!!! what a shame. women are dying delivering babies due to poor health care and we gonna waste MKI100,000.000.00 on mini-skirts.
Is this the same 100m the arts industry is saying is on the lower side.
Sick and tired of Presidential dinners, BEAM dinners, Fashion dinners and all the stupid dinners hosted at kamuzu and sanjika palace. Why not pump this K100m into proper road construction in our residential areas plus some cycle tracks and pedestrian pavement. Wrong priorities after wrong priorities 50 years and counting, mxiii!
HATE EVIL TO SHAME THE DEVIL
Please we are living in end times and the devil is busy applying all possible tactics to promote evil deeds in our amidst. There are real sensible issues that deserve our financial help other than this senseless satanic agenda of promoting nakedness and immorality in the name of fashion designs.Please let’s put our money to good use by channeling it to either disease, hunger or flood afflicted people