Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima has appealed for unity among tribal ethnic groups in the country as a powerful element in national development
Chilima made the remarks on Saturday, at the 2023 Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni ceremony held at Nkolimbo village, Traditional Authority (TA) Kwataine in Ntcheu district.
The vice president emphasized the need for Malawians to live in unity for a better Malawi by getting rid of envy, jealousy, and personal gains, allowing the country to progress through sustainable development.
He said that Maseko Ngoni Chiefs have a responsibility to ensure they address issues of population and climate change management for the betterment and progress in national development.
Minister of Local Government and Unity, Richard Chimwendo Banda, said this year’s Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni has created a diverse platform for unity among the Maseko and the entire nation.
He commended the Maseko Ngonis for supporting government in various developmental projects.
Speaking earlier, Inkosi Yamakosi Gomani V said this year’s ceremony should serve as a wake-up call for the Maseko Ngoni to focus on education, language, and environmental issues related to climate change.
He urged the Maseko Ngoni to be positive pioneers in preserving their mother language and actively raising education standards while becoming good custodians of development in their communities.
Inkosi Gomani commended the 2023 Umhlangano theme ” Unity is Strength” which is one of the pillars of the Maseko Ngoni, hence the annual celebrations.
On education Ngwenyama expressed disappointment on the districts performance on the Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB) results.
He said education is key to success and urged all relevant stakeholders to find ways of improving education among the Maseko Ngoni in Ntcheu district.
“The Maseko Ngoni and Ntcheu as a district, has registered poor results so as we promote Maseko Ngoni culture, let’s also promote education amongst us,” appealed Gomani.
Gomani called upon Maseko Ngoni chiefs to prioritise environmental preservation in dealing with climate change issues by planting more trees and adopting modern farming methods.
He also advised the Maseko Ngoni to address population growth concerns through family planning to avoid competition for available resources in the country.
Chairperson for the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Senior Chief Makwangwala said Umhlangano celebration is an annual event which is crucial for the Maseko ngonis not only in Malawi but Zambia, Mozambique, Eswatini.
This year’s Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni was held under the theme: “Unity is Power”.
Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni ceremony seeks to restore cultural heritage and the unique identity of the Ngoni people.
Reported by Alex Splendor Ngulube