President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has donated K4.5 million towards Chiwanja Cha a Yao Annual Cultural Festival to take place on Saturday at Mangochi Stadium.
Reacting to President Chakwera’s gesture in a statement addressing all the Yaos in the country, the cultural grouping said the money will go a long way in meeting up some logistical arrangements like erecting a good podium for dignitaries.
Reads the statement: “We would like to inform you all that the grouping has received the financial assistance amounting to K4.5 million from the Head of State His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera to assist in the preparation of our event.
On behalf of the Yao fraternity we would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the President for his kind gesture.”
Meanwhile the Office of the President and Cabinet has announced that President Chakwera will grace the annual festival.
President Chakwera’s availability at the Yao Cultural Festival is of paramount importance as it will epitomise the sense of unity and coexistence among people of different tribal backgrounds. More so as the Yao gathering comes a week after the launch of National Day of Unity and Dialogue which seeks to foster unity in the country.
According to the information sourced from the organisers, President Chakwera join former Heads of State Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda and other high ranking dignitaries and scores of Chiefs and politicians.
However, it is not immediately known whether the immediate former President Peter Mutharika will honour the invitation as he is fond of keeping away from such important occasions.
President Chakwera has already graced all but one cultural festivals in the country this year. He has been to Umthetho wa Ngoni and umhlangano wa Maseko in Mzimba and Ntcheu districts respectively.