Fair weather forecast for festival weekend

If you planned to go out and enjoy the Blantyre Arts Festival(BAF) or the Sunbird Sand Festival in Mangochi, you might want to carry along an umbrella. It’s going to rain moderately in both Blantyre and Mangochi this weekend, met experts say.

In the countdown to the start of the festivals, Tuesday, gave a surprise weather shift in  both cities with rain showers in Blantyre and Sunbird  Nkopola was just cold and dry.

“We should all pray to God to change the weather so that people can have fun,” said coordinator of the Sunbird Sand Festival Lucius Banda.

According to chief meteorologist Winston Chimwaza, there will be a fairly better weather at Nkopola as the area will experience a pick-up in temperature from Friday afternoon, but with one or two rain showers till Sunday.

“Poor weather is expected in Blantyre,” Chimwaza said as there will be thunderly showers on Friday afternoon, which will decrease in showers on Saturday and Sunday.

However, despite the forecast,  BAF chief executive officer Thom Chibambo was optimistic the weather will not affect the festival as the organisers have prepared for any eventuality.

“We are very prepared and foreign artists started arriving on Wednesday. We have a good environment that will help fans to enjoy the festival even if the weather goes bad. We have also tightened the security and all artists booked have confirmed performing,” he said.

This year’s festival has attracted artists from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Among others, the acts will include music, theatre, traditional dances and poetry and will be supported by powerful equipment supplied by African Music Festival Network to which BAF is subscribed to.

On Tuesday, Sunbird  Tourism Limited took reporters to the venue of the Sunbird Sand Festival to appreciate progress on preparations. As of Tuesday, the temporary bars, toilets, kioks and acoustic music stage were ready for use.

Being worked on were temporary shops at the local market which has been made bigger this year compared to previous years. The organisers have also erected a solid grass fence with the potential to control outsiders from sneaking into the venue as has been appreciated in the previous shows.

Well situated is the main performing stage planted at the centre of the fun area, and near the temporary bars and market constructed west of  Sunbird Nkopola Lodge.

“As usual, we want to make the festival memorable. We are providing the venue, drinks, food and accommodation and I can assure the nation that Sunbird is very prepared to support the people who will patronise the festival,” said Sunbird Hotels and Resorts public relations officer Akossa Mphepo.

Coordinator of the festival Lucius Banda said all technical services are ready. He said they have hired a 55 000 watts plus sound equipment for the three stages—acoustic, rehearsal and main performing stages.

“We are promising only quality services. We have worked tirelessly and checked on all the weaknesses we experienced last year and set up stand-by measures, that is why I am confidently promising fans only fireworks,” said Banda.

He said foreign artists started arriving on Wednesday afternoon and the international headliner Big Nuzz will be arriving Saturday morning.

Paul Banda, who is performing for the first time at a festival will be among the local artists.