The budget for the 2023 Umthetho Cultural Festival has been pegged at K53 million.
The Ngoni festival is set for August 9 to 12 at Hora Mountain in Mzimba District.
Mzimba Heritage Association Secretary General Kingsley Jere said they are making every effort to meet the budget.
“We have gone flat out as an association with various fundraising activities aimed at generating resources for this great event,” Jere said.
He further said that they have lined up a number of fundraising activities including a golf tournament which will take place on July 23 at Lilongwe Golf Club.
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“I am not in a position to say how much has been generated so far but every effort is being made to ensure that we get all the resources required for a successful event,” Jere said.
He then called upon sons and daughters of Mzimba “wherever they are” to support the festival.
“Companies, organisations and individuals from other ethnic groups, cultures and districts are also welcome to support us,” Jere said.
He said the festival will start on August 9 with a chiefs’ conference at Mzimba Boma which will be officially opened by Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V.
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“Renowned human rights activist Emma Kaliya will be the lead facilitator during this conference. On August 10, we will have youth and women conferences at Hora Heritage Centre where we will have a Kenyan keynote speaker.
“On August 11, we will go to pay homage to Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa I at his gravesite in Mzalangwe. Thereafter, Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V will lead his people in a hike of Hora Mountain. We will then have the main event on August 12, when there will be activities such as traditional dances, introduction of foreign dignitaries and speeches,” Jere said.
Umthetho is among the top annual cultural festivals in the country and the others include Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival which took place in July, Umhlangano wa Maseko, Mulhakho wa Alhomwe, Chiwanja cha Ayao and Gonapamuhanya.
