Mulhako embraces diversity on festival

Organisers of this year’s Mulhako wa Alhomwe annual celebrations say they have embraced diversity and inclusivity by inviting different dignitaries from across Africa.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe chief executive officer Pius Mvenya said this in an interview with The Nation on Friday. He said this is part of making the celebrations different and exciting unlike in previous years.

He said: “We are inviting dignitaries from different countries as well as organisations from within Malawi. We are also inviting other Lhomwe’s who are outside Malawi and we have also sent invitations to chiefs from other tribes within and outside Malawi.”

This year’s celebrations will cost K180 million, an upward adjustment from K150 million in 2021 and will be held at Chonde in Mulanje District on October 9.

As part of the fundraising activities, the grouping held a mega gospel show at Robins Park Hall in Blantyre yesterday. A similar show is expected to be held in Lilongwe.

Mulhako wa Alhomwe was formed during the administration of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under the leadership of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika purportedly to preserve Lhomwe cultural heritage.

Perceptions, however, emerged that members of the grouping were being favoured in the award of government contracts and consideration for some top jobs in the public sector.

In the aftermath of regime change following the June 23 2022 court sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election, the group has been accusing the Tonse Alliance of persecuting members affiliated to the group by either removing them from the public service or denying them government business contracts.

But on numerous occasions, Minister of Information and Digitisation, Gospel Kazako, who is also the official government spokesperson, has been reiterating that the nine-party led administration is an inclusive administration that does not see Malawi through tribal lenses.