As the cases of violence and mob justice tends to increase in Karonga, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Karonga has now intervened in the process of bringing the peace in the district by attacking the Chiefs and government officials for cause.
Speaking during the meeting on Saturday attended by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Beston Chisamile, officials from the police as well as senior traditional leaders in Karonga, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka said lack of teamwork spirit between the chiefs and government officials are the main root causes of such malpractice.
According to Mtumbuka, the violence and mob justice issues have not only affected the developmental projects of the district but also the work of the church.
“What you have to know is that the issues of mob justice and violence have mostly affected us as the church, because it has portrayed bad image to our fellows in other areas,” said Mtumbuka.
“But all of these are due to lack of coordination between you our leaders, for instance the junior chiefs are not respecting the views of their seniors so how do you expect to bring peace in your areas if you are on forefront fighting yourself as the leaders, we should not leave as we are still in pre-colonial errors this is 2015,” condemned Mtumbuka.
In his reaction Paramount Chief Kyungu denied Mtumbuka’s claim that there is no collaboration between the junior and senior chiefs saying “there is good collaboration between traditional leaders and we are working tires to enhance peace in the district.”
However Kyungu said “it is people who are supposed to enforce the country’s laws such as the police and government officials who are causing violent in the district especially because of their misconduct behaviors including corruption, so unless these officers change their mind-set peace will never be restored on top of that government should transfer all over stayed officers out of Karonga.”
Chisamile only appealed for collaboration between the leaders claiming “the district will never develop if the leaders continue to fight each other.”
The aim of the meeting was to find the means of enhancing peace and security in the district and was organized by the Karonga diocese.
