UTM Vice President Catherine Mzumara’s Heartfelt Tribute to Struggling Farmers Goes Viral
Prominent social media personality, farmer, and United Transformation Movement (UTM) Vice President for the North, Catherine Mzumara, has stirred emotions across Malawi after sharing a deeply personal and moving post on her Facebook account in solidarity with the country’s struggling tobacco farmers.
“I grieve with tobacco farmers,” Mzumara wrote, echoing a line that would soon resonate widely online. “Not only because I am a farmer myself, I grieve with tobacco farmers because I am wholly a product made from the proceeds of tobacco.”
In a powerful reflection, Mzumara shared how the golden leaf — once considered Malawi’s economic backbone — paved the way for her education and personal development.
“If the prices were a reflection of what is being offered today, I would be illiterate today,” she lamented.
Her most poignant revelation came when she spoke about her father — a blind tobacco farmer whose unwavering dedication defied the odds.
“One blind tobacco farmer was able to see through four kids from primary to university,” she wrote. “That blind man was my Father.”
Catherine’s heartfelt message comes at a time when many farmers are expressing frustration over poor prices and unfair market practices at auction floors. Her post has sparked a broader conversation about the future of tobacco farming in Malawi and the sacrifices made by those who depend on it.
“My story cannot be complete if I do not mention tobacco farming,” she concluded. “I grieve with Tobacco Farmers.”
The post has garnered hundreds of reactions, with many praising her honesty and bravery for speaking out.
One user commented, “This is the story of many of us. Thank you for putting it into words.” Another added, “A nation built by tobacco farmers, forgotten when they need us the most.”
As Malawi continues to grapple with issues in the agriculture sector, Mzumara’s voice, now amplified by her political position stands as a reminder of the lives tobacco has shaped, and the lives now left behind in its shadow.
