What are you doing this Christmas?

Come Saturday, church services will be buzzing, Christmas carols will be floating in the air, the food will be aplenty, laughter will flow at family gatherings and wine will be downed one glass after the other. What are your plans this Christmas? Paida Mpaso asks people from all walks of life to disclose their plans for this special day.

 

Ethel Kamwendo Banda, gospel artist.

I am making preparations to visit the old in my village. I have bought them a couple of presents, with which I hope to make them feel important and loved.  I know there are times they feel like we don’t care about them but I want to change that and make them feel proud of the job they did in raising us. This is also the kind of spirit I want my children to carry wherever they go.

 

Nancy Tembo, Malawi Congress Party’s Spokesperson

This Christmas I will take that long, much awaited and deserved trip to Mangochi, which is also where I come from. I want my family and I to have a good time. We will have fun at the lake and visit my relatives with a lot of food on the side.  I love traditional foods, but since Christmas is about sharing and making others happy, we will make sure that the needs of all who are invited are catered for by serving different types of food. I believe we will have a good time.

 

Dorothy Ngoma, executive director of Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi

First of all, I am truly happy because God has given me the gift of a grandchild this festive season. This year, I plan to give back, which means I will not go to the lake. I will spend the festive season helping mothers in the hospitals. I will be at the Ethel Mutharika Maternity Wing helping new mothers check out and giving them physical and emotional encouragement.

 

Naomi Kachimanga from Mbayani, businesswoman

I am thankful that God has kept me for such a long time; therefore this day will be dedicated to Him. I will go to church to give thanks then take care of my family. I want to spoil them a bit and as a businesswoman, I will buy rice, meat and drinks in celebration of this day. I want my children to know the importance of this day and grow up in reverence for the Lord. It’s a day for love and family.

 

Senior Chief Kachindamoto, Dedza

As a typical Ngoni chief, I will hold special parties complete with roast meat and beer. To us, Christmas is a day where we get to celebrate and spend some time with our loved ones. Family comes first in this, so I plan to take care of them and make them realise that this is a special day where we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want my children to grow up with the knowledge of God and His importance in our lives.