
President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has delegated Second Vice President Enock Kanzingeni Chihana (EKC) to represent him at this year’s Umthetho Cultural Festival, scheduled for Saturday, 8 August 2026.
Umthetho is the annual cultural festival of the Ngoni people, held at the foot of Hora Mountain in Mzimba District under the leadership of His Majesty Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V.
The festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Ngoni through traditional dances such as Ingoma, indigenous cuisine and beverages, and the preservation of Ngoni history, customs, and social values.
The event also highlights the progress of the Hora Heritage Centre, a cultural and development hub established by the Ngoni of Mzimba to promote heritage preservation, tourism, and community-driven development initiatives.
This year’s festival is being held under the theme, “Mzimba United for Land Preservation and Sustainable Development,” with a focus on addressing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable land management in response to increasing population pressures and the growing demand for land.



