President Peter Mutharika has called on Malawians do desist from mixing culture and politics as one of achieving peace and stability in the country.

Mutharika made the call in Mulanje on Sunday during the 12th anniversary of the Lhomwe people cultural festival popularly known as Mulhakho wa Lhomwe.

Mutharika, added that politicians should be in forefront fostering peace instead of abusing their respective culture to achieve their political mileage.

Mutharika said it was so pathetic to see that some people are trying to get their political fame by using their cultures to abuse some people of other tribes instead of using the same to unite people.

He said it’s the duty of every Malawian to see to it that they give no room to such politicians saying Malawi as a nation, belongs to everyone.

“Let’s not allow greedy politicians use culture and tribes to gain political mileage. You may be a Chewa, Tumbuka or a Lhomwe by tribe but the fact remains that we are all Malawians regardless of our cultural and political affiliation,” he said.

Mutharika, who is a Lhomwe by tribe, took advantage of the same event to ask chiefs to see to it that no girl child is being married off and that chiefs as custodians of culture, should be leading in making sure that girls go further with their studies and that they are getting married at a right time.

He added that time has now come that all the cultural practices which risks the contraction of HIV/AIDS should be dealt, once and for all.

“I don’t want to see young girls being married off at a tender age. Let’s allow our children to go to school, learn more and marry later. Chiefs make sure that you take a lead on this,” added Mutharika who is also a patron of the grouping

This year’s event was among others, celebrating lives of founder of the grouping, late Bingu Wa Mutharika, late Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa, late Paramount Chief Nkhumba and former chairperson Bright Mangulama.