Financial constraints frustrate operation of Ngoni grouping: Mzimba Heritage Association
A Ngoni grouping, called Mzimba Heritage Association (MZIHA says financial constraints fails it to meet some of its objectives of promoting the welfare of the Ngoni people.
Mziha General Secretary, Ndabazake Thole said this Saturday during annual general conference held at Tovwilane Multipurpose Hall at Mzimba Boma.
Thole was responding to remarks by delegates who pounced on the executive committee, citing poor governance as the main challenge that rocks smooth operation of the grouping.
The Saturday’s conference was the first annual general meeting since registration of Mziha as Trustee, in 2004 and its unclear when the next one will be scheduled for.
Thole said the grouping does not have sustainable financial muscle for it to successfully implements its time-lined programmes.
“Mziha operates from donation from well wishers and zealous sons and daughters of Mzimba and some who volunteer to discharge certain responsibilities for the survival and running of the cultural grouping,” said Thole.
At the moment, Mziha secretariat does not have an office and operates from the house of the secretary, in Mzuzu, which members said was strange and require urgent attention.
Mziha fails to have an office, even when some one volunteers his own building, since it can not afford salary for office attendant, according to Thole.
The remarks did not go down well with youth wing of the grouping who asked for space for new blood in the executive committee for new inputs and resource mobilization skills.
Secretary for Mziha, Mzimba Chapter, Nelson Bosses Nyirenda said much as members appreciate efforts made by incumbent secretariat to establish the grouping, their was great need to also include fresh brains into executive committee for diverse ideas to spur further development of the grouping for the common good of Mzimba people.
“Much as we will still need the services of the founding members of the grouping, it is high time young men were roped into high office of the grouping for their input as well as to master the operation of the grouping, in readiness for eminent transition,” said Nyirenda, drawing applause from the delegates.
He argued that as it was at the moment, it will be tough for the energetic young men to pick up distinct roles if they can suddenly be given the button to run Mziha because of their dismal involvement in the affairs of the grouping.
It was a rude awakening to delegates when it was discovered in the meeting that the grouping has young men who have the potential to rake resources into resource constraint Mziha, had they been taken on board in the operation of the grouping.
Another thorn in the fresh of Mziha is that the grouping has only two Trustees out of the Seven, which is illegal according to Mziha constitution.
One Trustee, also founding member of Mziha, Reverend Dr Overton OP Mazunda urged the secretariat to do all it can to fill vacant positions of Trustees.
“As it is now, Mziha is operating illegally with only two trustees. Let efforts be made to fill the vacant positions,” pleaded Mazunda.
Despite financial challenges standing in the way of Mzyha, the grouping has registered tremendous achievement, according to Thole.
“Since the grouping was instituted, Mzimba has successfully claimed back its lost glory. Chiefs and other local leaders are now able to enjoy their respect,” said Thole.
He added that Mziha has managed to unite sons and daughters of Mzimba, in addition to linking Mzimba Ngonis to their brothers and sisters and relatives in Southern and Central Africa, Songeya in Tanzania and Mpezeni in Chipata in Zambia.
“Plans are in the cards to send our youths to Kwazulu Natal to be drilled on Ngoni culture and learn the role of fellow youths in contribution to development,” explained Thole.
When he was closing the meeting, on behalf of M’mbelwa 5, Inkosi Kampingo Sibande asked Mziha secretariat to tighten its belt in mobilizing resources for the smooth operation of the grouping for it to achieve its objective.
Meanwhile, Mziha is reviewing its constitution, in anticipation to change its name from association to a foundation.
UNESCO, a renown international cultural organization, has reasoned with Mziha to call itself a foundation because it has the blessings of Chiefs and all the people of Mzimba and not a handful people who associate with each other.
Mziha was formed to preserve Ngoni culture which was under threat of extinction due to infiltration of foreign traditions, practices and norms from other districts of Malawi and beyond, who take the Ngoni land as hot spot of their destination because it flows with milk and honey.
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