Mutharika heads Muhlakho, special Muhlakho cloth for him

— Donates K5 million for the group
–Group to be apolitical, with ties to DPP
By Chancy Namadzunda

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) acting president and a likely 2014 candidate Peter Mutharika has been endorsed as the current patron of the Muhlakho wa Lhomwe, taking over from his late elder brother Bingu.
According to the minutes of the group’s forthcoming festive preparatory meeting held on July 22, 2012, at Lilongwe residence of Mutharika in Area 10, the grouping agreed that the cloth for the event should bear a picture of the new patron.

The meeting attended to Mutharika, Joseph and Rev Lewis Mwanamvenkha, Jean Thamanga, Dr Charles Matabwa, Ben Phiri amd Hestings Maloya among others, also agreed that the group should be apolitical with strong ties to the DPP.

The budget for this year’s event is K45 million kwacha out of which K36 million has been raised with the new patron coughing K5 million.

“The new patron will be formerly introduced on the festive day, October 28 and that the introduction of Mutharika should go ahead regardless of what people will say since tribe is glorious, inheritance and there is nothing that can be done.

“We propose that there should be a special cloth designed as one way of boosting Mutharika’s image,” reads part of the minutes signed by Chairman Joseph Mwanamvekha and Secretary Muchanankhwaye Mpuluka Face of Malawi is in possession.

DPP ASSOCIATION

According to the minutes, the group’s decision to have close ties with the DPP follows the way government is treating the Lhomwes.

“The grouping should have close links with the DPP since most of its members are being victimized by the government citing recent dismissals of L. Muhura and J. Mwanamvekha as examples,” says the minutes
The meeting was informed that all local structures of the organization are intact and these will be working independently from the DPP.

“However, the organization’s cloth will be distributed to all members to keep it afloat and visible,” reads part of the minutes from the meeting which later congratulated Mutharika for the political road he has taken with the Mgona meeting as an example.

Mutharika, according to the minutes, indicated that this year’s event be great since there is a misconception that the festivities will not take place upon the sad death of former patron and founder Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.

Efforts to talk to both Mutharika’s personal assistant Ben Phiri and Mwanamvekha proved futile.