Malawi Government has told politicians hands off cultural organisations in the country, saying this tendency divide Malawians.
Minister of Local Government Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda says the Chakwera administration will not entertain anyone who tries to divide Malawians either on religious, political or cultural fronts.
Politician Richard Chimwendo
Speaking on Saturday at a Chewa Heritage Foundation (Chefo) fundraising activity at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, Chimwendo Banda said cultural ceremonies should act as unifying factors.
“We are blessed to have different cultural ceremonies but these should not create boundaries among us but rather act as a cementing ingredient to our Malawian identity.
“No one should make us believe that we are different,” said Chimwendo Banda.
He said time has come when Malawians should stop aligning political affiliation to region, tribe or ethnicity rather think of the better future of the country and make positive contributions.
As a starting point, the Minister said government is restoring the powers and respect of chiefs so that they should in turn help government preach peace and unity to their subjects.
Chefo chairperson Stanley Khaira asked the Chewas to leave in harmony among themselves and with other tribes in order to ensure a peaceful Malawi.
Khaira said the Chewa king Kalonga Gawa Undi always advises his chiefs to live in harmony with other tribes and always lead their people by example.
The fundraising activity was attended by Chefo leadership, chiefs, politicians from different parties and representatives of other cultural groups including the Lhomwe, Ngoni, Tumbuka and Yao.
Chefo chairperson Stanley Khaira asked the Chewas to leave in harmony among themselves and with other tribes in order to ensure a peaceful Malawi.