Malawi Chewa Heritage in tree conservation drive

By Lovemore Katanda

Malawi Chewa Heritage also known as ‘Chifukwato Cha a Chewa’ has called on traditional leaders in the country to take a leading role in protecting and conserving forests inorder to combat the effects of climate change such as hunger.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Chairperson for the cultural grouping Gogo Sosola said the organization has noted with a great concern that some chiefs in the country are helping charcoal producers and sellers to source forest materials, a development he said has encouraged the dwindling of trees in many forests.

Sosola added that the dry spells that have hit many districts is as a result of climate change usually caused by human activities such as deforestation.

“We can ably combat effects of climate change by planting more trees. It is now a fact that more trees are being cut than those planted,” he said.

In a twist of event, Sosola has asked all Chewa chiefs in the country to tell their subjects to stop contributing maize and money for Kulamba ceremony that annually take place at Nkaika in Zambia and is graced by his Hyness Kalonga Gawa Undi, describing the act as irrelevant to the current country’s maize shortages and economic challenges.

Sosola has further faulted Kalonga Gawa Undi for not demonstrating love and generosity to his Chewa ethnic especially during the time when the country was hardly affected by numerous challenges such as cyclone Freddy and hunger crisis in recent years.

“We have noted that many districts have not harvested even enough for consumption. Therefore ,it will be unjust for us to ask our people to contribute for Kulamba ceremony this year,” narrated Sosola.

Sosola while also claiming that out of the country’s population of 20 million people,14 million are the Chewas, has asked Chewa chiefs across the country to begin contemplating on holding Chewa cultural event locally to strengthening love among Chewa people, adding that those that travel to Nkaika are few in numbers as compared to people who do not participate in Kulamba ceremony.

Since it’s inception two years ago, Malawi Chewa Heritage has visited traditional leaders across the country where among others ,the group leaders have been preaching about uniting Chewa people and  showing love and peace among Chewa ethnic.