Tag Archives: Umthetho Cultural Festival

Business

NICO Group supports Umthetho festival with MK35 million

MaraviPost

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-NICO Group led by NBS Bank plc and Nico Life has supported this year’s Umthetho Cultural festival with MK35 million.

Umthetho is a cultural festival by the Mzimba Ngonis and is celebrated at the foot of Hora Mountain every year.

Speaking after handing over the cheque on behalf of NICO Group on Tuesday, NBS Bank plc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kwanele Ngwenya said the Groups’ decision to sponsor the event is driven by the deep commitment to community development, cultural preservation, and social responsibility.

“At NICO Group, we recognize the profound importance of cultural heritage in shaping identities and fostering unity. By supporting this event, we aim to contribute to the preservation and promotion of these invaluable cultural practices that define our collective identity.”

“This sponsorship is part of our larger initiative, One NICO Xpression, which embodies our vision of unity, diversity, and collective growth. By sponsoring the Umthetho ceremony with a K35 million contribution, we are expressing our commitment to these values and enriching our cultural heritage,” said Ngwenya.

Receiving the funds on behalf of Mzimba Heritage Association (MZIHA), 2024 Umthetho Organizing Committee Chairperson, Emma Kaliya thanked the group for the kind gesture.

“On behalf of the MZIHA, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to NICO Group for their generous donation. We are pleased to announce that NICO Group will be the main sponsor of our upcoming event, which is expected to draw a large crowd of 3500-5000 people from various districts in Malawi, as well as from neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa,” said Kaliya.

Some of the activities of this year’s Umthetho festival include workshops for chiefs, women, and the youth, a cultural day with the main celebration on August 3, 2024.

The King of the Zulu Nation, His Majesty Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini is expected to be in attendance.

 The festival is being celebrated under the theme ‘Uniting Against Climate Change Under a Decade of Inkosi ya Makosi Mmbelwa V’s reign’.

Travel & Tourism

Malawi Govt urged to embrace Umthetho Cultural Festival for Forex generation

Maravi Post Reporter

MZUZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Malawi government has been urged to treat Umthetho Cultural Festival, underway at the foot of Hora Mountain in Mzimba, with seriousness because it has the potential to generate foreign currency considering the high number of foreign dignitaries that turn out for the event.

Mzimba Heritage Association (Mziha) Secretary General, Kingsley Jere appealed to the organizer of the event which started on Thursday, August 10, 2023.

“What is most exciting is that we have a big turnout of foreign dignitaries from various countries including Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Nairobi, and Kenya who have joined us.

“This should send a signal to the government to take the festival with a business perspective because the many foreign dignitaries that have come for the festival can provide the country the needed forex,” appeals Jere.

Mziha, whose aim is to preserve and promote the heritage of the Ngoni people, was founded in the year 2000 and has been organizing the Umthetho Cultural Festival at Hora since 2007.

The festival under the theme: ‘Integrating Culture and the Environment to Mitigate Climate Change’, has attracted several activities including music performances from the country’s reggae outfit, The Black Missionaries Band.

Malawi, Travel & Tourism

Mbelwa dares Chakwera on chiefs’ honoraria huddles

Maravi Post Reporter

By Vincent Gunde

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Paramount Chief Mbelwa of Mzimba has asked President Lazarus Chakwera to sort out chiefs’ honoraria allowances observing that every week chiefs are being elevated while the issue of honoraria is still unresolved.

Mbelwa claimed that some chiefs are being promoted without the knowledge of Senior Chiefs advising the president that senior chiefs are the ones who writes recommendation to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) that such chief deserve promotions.

Chakwera and Mbelwa

Speaking during the Umthetho Cultural Festival held at the foot of Hora mountain in Mzimba on Saturday, Paramount Mbelwa asked President Chakwera to address the honoraria issue in as soon as yesterday saying if left unchecked it will derail development projects.

“The chief write a letter for promotion to your office, tomorrow you hear that such chief has been promoted, this is not good,’’ said Mbelwa.

Bwalo la Chewa Foundation (BOLA-CEFO) described Umthetho Cultural Festival of the Ngoni people as the best.

The grouping observes that it a great lesson to all the Chewa leaders who are misleading fellow Chewas in Malawi taking them to Zambia for cultural festivities that can be held in their own soils.

Chakwera described the Umthetho Cultural Festival as enlightening and educative on the importance of transmitting social values across generations.