The organizers of this year’s men Ijitma, the Council of Ulamah have revealed that President Peter Mutharika will officially open this year’s event which is expected to take place at Chonde ground in Thyolo district from 6 to 8 November.
Secretary General for Council of Ulamah Sheikh Cassim Chongolo told Malawi Muslims Website in an interview that the Office of President and Cabinet has already confirmed about the development.
“All the preparations have been going on very well; so far I can assure you that we have done everything in as far as men’s Ijitma is concerned and we are expecting to have thousands of Muslims from across the country and others from abroad on this particular event. This will be the greatest event considering that it will be graced by His Excellency Prof. Peter Mutharika who is our guest of honor,” said Chongolo.
Asked on the measures which they have put in place to make sure that people from all corners of this country should attend this year’s Ijitma Chongolo said:
“We have been working hand in hand with the Muslim Association of Malawi chairpersons at district level mainly to organize the transport for those who want to attend this function and we have received reports from them that the transports are ready almost from all the districts across the country.”
However, he said this year’s event was challenged by financial hiccups as one of the factors which influenced them to postpone the events to this month.
“As you know we planned to have this event from 30th October-1st November but we had a problem in terms of funding since other people who made their pledges had not yet funded by then and we just decided to give them a space and now I can assure people that everything is in order,” said the secretary general.
He also said that as usual, they are expecting to receive other visitors from countries like South Africa and Saudi Arabia who already confirmed their presence.
Ijitma is the General Annual assembly which brings Muslims together to discuss some of the challenges Islamic religion is facing and finding the solutions to the challenges the Muslims are facing in the country. It started in late 1980s and this is the 17th event in Malawi since other years were absent due to financial problems and it’s a fourth event organized by the Council of Ulamah.
