Mutharika graces Umhlangano, urges Malawians to promote peace
President Peter Mutharika presided over Umhlangano cultural celebrations for the Ngoni Maseko on Saturday at Nkolimbo Village in Ntcheu and called on all Malawians to continue promoting peace and respect for one another in the country.
Mutharika said it was sad to note that Malawians do not love one another and continue castigating each other because of differences in political affiliations as well as ethnic groups.
“May I urge you my fellow Malawians to continue promoting peace and respect for one another if our country is to continue growing,” he said.
The President said it was important for Malawians to ensure that while there was freedom to promote and preserve their cultural values and beliefs, they should consider only those values that do not infringe on other people’s rights, especially women and children.
“We must understand that culture is a foundation for civilization. Therefore as a nation, we must ensure that we only promote those cultural values and beliefs that promote development and do not infringe on the rights of women and children,” Mutharika pointed out.
The President said that, “My government is happy to see different ethnic groups in the country celebrating their culture. This does not only promote, preserve and protect culture, but also help in developing the country,”
Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani thanked government for promoting and preserving culture in the country.
“We are privileged to have you our President as guest of honour. Your coming signifies the commitment government has towards promotion and preservation of culture in the country,” he said.
The Ngoni chief asked his subjects to continue preserving the environment by planting more trees and ensuring the trees are cared for until they are fully grown.
“The problem with us Malawians is that we start something and care less to continue caring for it. May I urge everyone to make sure that the trees we planted are well taken care of,” he said.
Gomani took time to encourage people in the country to make sure they take part in sending children, especially girls to school.
Umhlangano is a zulu word meaning the re-assembling or coming together of people from one or same ethnicity to share cultural beliefs and more importantly, to thank God for the good things or blessings bestowed on them.
During the Umhlangano ceremony, President Mutharika together with Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani v, set free two white doves as a sign of peace.
According to Inkosi Gomani, this symbolizes that the Ngonis are peace loving people.
Early in the morning of the Umhlangano celebrations, Maseko Ngonis assemble at the cenotaph of the Late Chikuse Gomani who died in 1896 to pay homage to the dead and offer sacrifice to the late chief in a ceremony called Kukhwisula.
During the Kukhwisula function, locally brewed masese beer is poured by one of the impis around the tomb of Chikuse Gomani as a sacrifice and show of respect to the departed chief.
At exactly 5 am on Saturday morning, Maseko Ngonis from across the country assembled at the Late Chikuse Gomani’s cenotaph to pay homage to the first ngoni chief of the Maseko Ngoni.
A bull was then slaughtered and its cooked blood or Uwende was shared amongst themselves, marking the final ceremony of the kukhwisula ceremony which was initiated by the current Chief Gomani V in 2013.
Since his installation as the Maseko Ngoni Chief Gomani V on August 5, 2012 by the Late President Bingu wa Mutharika, the chief has promoted his culture through this yearly event.
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The same president missed the opportunity by not gracing the 125 years Celebrations for Zambezi Evangelical Church held on 3rd September, 2017, though he was invited as Guest of Honour. Zambezi Evangelical Church is not a small movement. It has over 700 churches and over 300 pastors in the country. The church was shocked to hear that the president is not coming to attend the celebrations instead he will send Honourable Nankhumwa to represent him. The president himself has been attending 25 years celebrations. But here we are talking of 125 years. We suspect that the president was misled by… Read more »
Malawians are indeed peaceful People what makes them disappointed is the state president says one word which means opposite. He does not accuse hus cadets when they are harrassing other parties. In Malawi we fought for democracy while APM was in USA. He did not suffer. Its a shame He got everything for free. All He does is to shield his fellower DDPS. I have NO trust in hos peaceful words He talks about. He is like Trump.
Why is it that all the security personnel are looking at the birds instead of looking at the president for his security?
They are not entirely out of line – It’s still in line with their duties as bird droppings on the President is a matter of national security too as the liquid is likely to cause bodily harm to the president – poop dropping in an eye can make one blind, and it’s in our best interest to not have our President smelling like it and polluting the air 😉