VP URGES TRIBES IN MALAWI TO PROMOTE THEIR CULTURE

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima has called on all tribes in Malawi to spearhead activities and ceremonies which can contribute towards the promotion of culture to maintain the country’s and their tribes’ identities respectively.

Chilima was speaking Saturday at Mkolimbo Village in the area of Senior Chief Kwataine in Ntcheu at Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni Cultural Day.

“Every nation and tribe is recognized by its cultural values and practices, hence the need for Malawians to be in the forefront in promoting their culture in respect to their tribes,” said Chilima.

He said government can only support initiatives by tribes in the promotion of their cultural values but chiefs have to motivate their subjects at all levels not to tolerate copying foreign cultural practices which demonstrate immorality and lack of politeness.

“Of late, I have noted a lot of people copying foreign dressing in some cases youths show their underwear that is uncalled for in Malawi, that practice would in the long run ruin Malawian cultural values and practices,” he said.

Chilima also advised Malawians to have keen interest in teaching children their mother languages as one of the means of promoting their identity.

The Vice President then took advantage to advise Malawians to develop self independence syndrome by working hard on their own to improve their livelihoods, saying most of the donor countries have developed a system of attaching conditions to their aid, saying donor dependency cannot contribute to sustainable development of the country.

“Some donors attach conditions to their aid because they also have problems in their countries, so we must learn to develop self dependency spirit if this country is to develop.

In his remarks, Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani Nankhumwa said cultural values and practices if well preserved can contribute towards the promotion of tourism in the country.
“We have seen a lot of Ngoni artifacts and these can attract tourists into the country,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Paramount Chief Gomani V advised chiefs of the Maseko Ngoni to priotize the promotion of education, tree planting, modern agricultural practices among others for the country’s sustainable development.

The Vice President earlier in the day laid wreaths at Chikuse Gomani Memorial Tomb before touring display stands of the Ngoni artifacts.

The Umhlangano Wa Maseko Ngoni which was attended by Ngoni Chiefs from other parts of the country, South Africa and Mozambique is an annual cultural festival which involves paying homage to the Ngoni Maseko Ancestral spirits and sacrifices are offered at the Gomani Chikuse tombstone as thanks giving and asking for peace and prosperity and it is held annually.