Hora beckons Umthetho Festival
Dust will indisputably have little chance to settle during the 2024 edition of Umthetho Cultural Festival whose climax will be tomorrow on the foot of Hora Mountain in Mzimba.
This year’s festival will likely pull a huge turnout as hundreds of guests from South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania are set to attend.
Mzimba Heritage Association general secretary Kingsley Jere said this year also marks 10 years of Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V’s reign.
The festival will be graced by King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini of the Zulu nation in South Africa accompanied by izinduna, amakhosi and some South African government officials.
“We are celebrating Inkosi ya Makhosi’s decade reign as well as taking a look at issues of climate change under the theme Uniting Against Climate in a Decade of Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V,” said Jere.
President Lazarus Chakwera will attend the ceremony.
According to Jere, the festival starts today with a visit to Mzalangwe to pay homage to the tomb of Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa 1. Thereafter, there will be hiking at Hora Mountain, eating and drinking.
The ceremony will also be an opportunity for some people to do business. Speaking in an interview, food seller Grace Njikho said she will spend three nights at Hora.
“This is the time that accords us an opportunity to make extra money because of the patrons to the festival. I will be relocating to Hora to sell food” she said.
There are about 200 guests expected from South Africa.
Mzimba Youth Organisation executive director Moses Nkhana says they will be conducting training on climate change among communities.
The organisation has also procured 50 000 condoms to be distributed at the festival.
M’mbelwa District Council trade officer Chimwemwe Sichinga says such cultural festivals are a great platform for businesses.
“People attending the festival will need to eat, drink and even buy airtime for their phones. So to an industrious businessperson Umthetho Cultural Festival or any other festival should be maximised for sales,” said Sichinga.
