President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has asked stakeholders tasked with realisation of the National Cultural Day to expedite the process so that all ethnic and heritage groups can find a common platform on which to showcase their cultural attributes.
The President was speaking in Ntcheu on Saturday when he graced this year’s Umhlangano Cultural Festival for the Maseko Ngoni.
The ceremony brings together the Maseko Ngonis who celebrate their culture together with other Ngonis from Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia among others.
In his remarks the President expressed the need for cultures to unite in shared purpose for the goodness of the country.
“Let the Ministries of National Unity and Tourism and Culture come up with a day where all people of various tribes should express their culture through, dress and dance,” he said.
The President commended Maseko Ngoni chiefs for their role in helping government to achieve its development agenda in education, agriculture, health and social services among others.
He then promised Malawians of government’s commitment to continue providing basic services to ensure that everyone enjoys from the development programs under the Tonse-led administration.
He further said he understands that there are challenges such as access to National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef), which sometimes gets politicised.
“These are the kind of attitudes we are working hard enough to do away with….because they are progressive,” lamented Dr Chakwera. He challenged traditional leaders to mobilise their subjects to work for the development of Malawi.
In his speech, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, said Malawians need to come together to develop the country using the youths who are many in the country.
The Inkosi said this can be realised by providing an enabling environment for them to do business and contribute to economic growth.
He called on the government to work with everyone who shows patriotism and leave politics aside to transform Malawi.
Earlier, the President and the First Lady briefly stopped at the Headquarters of Inkosi Gomani V to inspect his house which the government has renovated to the tune of K98 million. Dr Chakwera said his administration puts the welfare of traditional leaders at the centre of its agenda.
This year’s Umhlangano Festival coincided with the 10th anniversary of Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V’s chieftaincy.
