By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre, October 27, Mana: Makewana, a Chewa Prophetess has urged Chewa people to live in unity and promote love among themselves and also with other tribes in Malawi to maintain peace in the country.

This was said during a sacrificial ceremony for good rains and mercy from God to take away hunger, pandemics and all evil, which undermines Malawi's progress.

Speaking for Makewana on Saturday at Msinja Shrine in Tsang'oma Village under Traditional Authority Chingala in Lilongwe, Senior Village Head Chithonje said all tribes in Malawi are one and therefore should live in harmony.

"Our difference in tribes, jobs, religion and everything should not make us forget that we are all Malawians. Let's love each other, work very hard in different aspects of life including agricultural production to fight poverty. Let's hold hands in achieving the development of our country Malawi," he said.

Chairperson for Chewa Heritage Foundation (Chefo), Dr. Stanley Khaila expressed gratefulness for the message by Makewana to Malawi about unity in diversity, saying the bible preaches the same.

"People need to know that Chewa culture is rooted in God just as seen here, the rules for going to the shrine are very strict than other places of worship, some didn't reach the shrine stage  because they failed to meet the requirements and this clearly tells us that if we really choose to be God fearing, Malawi can never be the same," he said.

Khaila said the position of Makewana is not through nomination but rather one is naturally born as a prophetess.

"Here they look for a girl who is visionary to see things that will happen in future even beyond three to four years. Makewana sees the future and is able to advise people to be prepared for what is coming ahead," he said.

According to senior GVH Mazombwe, Makewana stayed indoors for 21 days to prepare for the day of sacrifice and prayers and all people who participate especially at the shrine stage are those who have abstained from conjugal obligations for seven consecutive days.

He said the sacrifice offered includes a goat which is slaughtered and prepared, it is then shared to all people present to eat the steak only leaving the bones which are included in the sacrifice.

He added that anything red is not allowed to step into the shrine  because red stands for blood.

Director of Museums and Monuments, Dr. Lovemore Mazibuko concurred with Khaila, saying the message from Makewana about unity and love is very important for the country to forget ahead with its development aspirations.

"In Malawi, we promote coexistence and also establishment of different cultural heritages, each one of them celebrating their own culture as much as possible.

"We also place such activities as the government's annual calendar and we encourage these cultural heritages to be inviting other heritages to events so that they can participate in these cultural activities," he said.

Mazibuko added that Umodzi Day which was established two years ago brings together all ethnic groups where they celebrate and appreciate each other's culture so that together they can protect and preserve what is Malawian.

The ceremony was funded and supported by CHEFO under the leadership of Supreme Chewa King, Kalonga Gawaundi.