No Macfest this year, says govt
The future of the Malawi Cultural Festival (Macfest) hangs in the balance.
Just a year after its launch in Lilongwe, there is still uncertainty that the festival will return as the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture has failed to give clear indications as to when it will return.
Among an array of musical and arts festivals in Malawi, MacFest is the only national art festival run and managed by government.
In an interview, spokesperson for the ministry Chrissie Chiumia said there are no details of the festival at the moment.
“I have been out of office and I have to check with colleagues. What I have gathered is that the festival is on, but not this year. There will be a committee to run the festival and it will produce a programme which will be made available to the public,” she said.
Chiumia added that the festival’s budget falls in the current financial year, but will not be held in the calendar year which ends next month.
“As government we operate on financial year and not calendar year. What this means is that the festival will be held next year before the close of the financial year. However, I cannot say the exact date at the moment,” she said.
The inaugural festival was held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe amid several postponements and poor planning that saw the festival using an old Malawi flag among others. Most of the exhibitors also complained of short notice to festival.
According to an earlier announcement, the festival whose budget is pegged at K20 million (about $50 000), was supposed to take place last month, but no dates have been communicated to the public.
