PRESIDENT Peter Mutharika has encouraged Malawians to live in unity regardless of their differences. Speaking during the fifth Ngoni celebration known as Umhlangano wa Maseko in Ntcheu yesterday, Mutharika said unity is power and it is essential for the country’s development.
The President, who along with Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V let fly two doves as a symbol of unity, asked Malawians to stop castigating each other because of differences in tribes and political party affiliation.
“Let us learn to respect each other because we are all children of God and equal in His eyes. Unity, respect and hard-work are the qualities we need to develop this nation. We should also promote our culture because it is the foundation of all civilisations,” Mutharika said.
In his speech, Ngwenyama Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V called upon Malawians to finish the projects [that the government initiates] after noticing that most projects are left incomplete and the practice retards development.
“For example, when we agree to plant trees, we do not follow up to see how many trees have survived. Look at our mountains, they are no longer beautiful. “We encourage our girls to go to school but do we monitor if they are indeed working hard?
Again, fellow Malawians let us take heed [of] messages that aim at behavioural change. Messages about HIV are put across so that we should change,” he said.
The Ngwenyama gave the president a cow as a token of appreciation for gracing the occasion. The ambassador of the United States of America to Malawi, Virginia Palmer explained the need for culture to protect women and children. “As we promote culture, let us ensure that it does not hurt women and children.
Culture should help protect young girls from early marriages,” Palmer said. The theme for this year’s event, which took place at Nkolimbo village, was ‘Unity is Power’.
Among the dignitaries that attended the event were the vice president Saulos Chilima, Minister of Information Nicholas Dausi and Inkosi Mbelwa, Leader of Opposition and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera.
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