The Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Williams Richard Chimwendo Banda has told chiefs in the country that chieftaincy institutions are the bedrock of sustainable development and socioeconomic transformation of the nation and further to that they are also “moral campus’ of our society.
Chimwendo was speaking today at Mangochi Stadium in the District where he elevated Traditional Authority Mapila and Chamba and installed Sub- Traditional Authority Nkumba.
In his remarks, the Minister urged the newly crowned chiefs to work with their subjects by among others propagating peace, unity, coexistence with others among their subjects as springboard for socioeconomic progress and national building.
“Chieftaincy institutions have stood the test of times and have become the guarantors of democracy, peace and socio cohesion and have served as the true symbol of authority in this country since memorial, therefore, chiefs must strive to unite with their subjects through contact and dialogue mechanisms and mediate on ‘village civil cases’ without taking sides,” said the Minister who is also leader of government business in the National Assembly.
Chimwendo has also warned the traditional leaders against corruption in this year’s Affordable Input Program (AIP).
“Corruption is the chief thief of socioeconomic transformation. Therefore, stealing from the poor Malawians is like getting away with ‘murder’ and that government will not defend any chief who rob their subjects, by conniving with vendors and government officials mainly on AIP, warned,” Chimwendo who is also Chairperson of AIP Taskforce at Cabinet level.
He further reminded the chiefs that bribery and corruption are best instigators of lawlessness that “slow walk” development in the country and therefore, it is incumbent upon them to protect women, children and the elderly from pangs of perpetual abject poverty in the country.
On chiefs wrangles, the Minister has assured the nation that government is not interested in the meddling into the affairs of chieftaincy.
But he was quick to say that most chieftaincy grievances that are arising from successions have to be resolved peacefully and in good faith and not through the courts to enable the Chakwera administration to prosecute its agenda for the accelerated socioeconomic transformation.
In their remarks, the chiefs hailed President Dr Lazarus Chakwera through the Minister for recognizing their role in reshaping community development.
Various political leaders graced the function including UDF President Lilian Patel, MPs, business people among others.
