Ngoni leaders in Mzimba, led by Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa, used the Umthetho cultural event to reject calls to split the district, saying division would not accelerate development.
The appeal follows a campaign by a group led by Samuel Lwara advocating for a split of Mzimba to allegedly boost development.
But M’mbelwa said evidence from other divided districts shows that splitting does not guarantee progress.
“We are one people. I know we have problems, but splitting the district is not a solution,” he said.
“There are districts that were split but have not developed. If we have problems, the best is to sit down and discuss; we can’t take the splitting route.”
M’mbelwa also outlined plans to develop Hora, the Umthetho venue, into a tourism hub featuring a hotel, sports facilities and a conference centre.
Secretary‑general of the Mzimba Heritage Association Khumbo Soko echoed M’mbelwa’s view, saying plans to divide Mzimba were unnecessary.
“There is no reason to divide Mzimba. There is nothing wrong that needs fixing,” he said.
Second Vice‑President Enock Chihana, speaking at the ceremony, praised President Peter Mutharika for fostering unity between government and opposition.
“Previously, we used to sit in some tents somewhere far away because we were in opposition, but Mutharika wants us to unite; see, we are sharing the stage,” he said.
Chihana backed Mmbelwa’s vision for Hora and called for investor support.
He also said the government is seeking public‑private partnerships for Mombera University, noting that government has K14 billion and is seeking about K300 billion from investors.
First Vice‑President Jane Ansah attended the event but did not speak as Chihana was the one the President delegated.
On Friday, Inspector‑General Luhanga urged residents not to take the law into their own hands, citing a worrying rise in murders in the district.
He said 50 murder cases had been recorded in Mzimba since January.
This year’s Umthetho theme was ‘Mzimba: United for land preservation and sustainable development.’
