MZUZU--Ethnic grouping, Mulhakho wa Alhomwe, on Sunday celebrated its fourth anniversary at its headquarters, Chonde in Mulanje and accorded the patronship of the grouping to Paramount Chief Mkumba, and not to DPP's Professor Peter Mutharika, as some people were speculating.

The Mulhako wa Alhomwe was established in 2008 to bring in the open and promote Lhomwe cultural activities. Today, the Lhomwe of Malawi are a recognised cultural grouping which is well known in the country and has sold its idea of ethnic associations to other tribes in the country.

Recently, rumours were awash in the local media that some Yao chiefs met president Joyce Banda to discuss the prospect of coming up with a Yao association that would be similar to Mulhakho wa Alhomwe. President Joyce Banda is a Yao but married to retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, a Tonga from Nkhata Bay.

The late Mapwiya Murhuphali President Bingu wa Mutharika, was the founder and patron of Mulhako Wa Alhomwe. The Sunday celebrations, which cost the gruping over 80 million kwacha, according to one of the organisers renowned businessman Leston Mulli, were spiced by traditional dances spiced by beer drinking and eating of a variety of foods.

Before the Sunday celebrations, the grouping held a holy mass on Saturday in memory of fomer president Bingu wa Mutharika and Hastings Maloya, who were the key founders of the grouping.

Some of the notable individuals who attended the function include DPP 2014 presidential hopeful, Professor Peter Mutharika, who is also brother to former Mulhakho wa Alhomwe patron Bingu wa Mutharika and former First Lady Callista Mutharika.

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