Mwanamveka Urges Cabinet Ministers to Buy Plenty of Gondolosi

Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamveka has urged his fellow Cabinet ministers to buy plenty of gondolosi at this year’s Mulhako wa Alhomwe cultural festival, joking that those who feel shy can send their personal assistants to do the shopping for them.

Mwanamveka, who represented President Peter Mutharika as guest of honour at the ceremony held at Chonde in Mulanje District, said people should take advantage of the availability of the traditional herbal root.

“The body is like a vehicle; it needs servicing. You should not go back home making excuses when gondolosi is available,” he said.

Gondolosi, scientifically known as Mondia whitei, is a wild climbing plant whose roots are traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and natural energy booster.

Mwanamveka commended the Mulhako wa Alhomwe leadership for preparing gondolosi as juice rather than the usual fermented brew.

Beyond the light-hearted remarks, the Finance Minister urged Malawians to remain patient as the government works to address the country’s socio-economic challenges.

He warned traders hoarding maize against exploiting poor Malawians, saying the government would not tolerate such practices.

“We will not allow some greedy people to exploit poor Malawians,” Mwanamveka said.

He also acknowledged the country’s debt challenges, saying Malawi had borrowed K24 trillion over the past five years.

Mwanamveka said the government would continue implementing austerity measures to manage available resources.

On unity, he said Mutharika loved all Malawians and wished them well, urging the Lhomwe community to avoid hatred and support one another.

He also called on people to protect the environment in line with this year’s festival theme, “Protecting the Environment with Future Generations in Mind”, urging them to stop indiscriminate tree cutting and the killing of animals.

Mwanamveka further asked Malawians to remember the late former president Bingu wa Mutharika and Peter Mutharika for their roles in establishing Mulhako wa Alhomwe and founding the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The festival took place without Mutharika, who is the patron of Mulhako wa Alhomwe and has attended the annual event since its establishment in 2008.

The President is reportedly in South Africa on a private trip, leaving Mwanamveka to represent him at this year’s gathering.