By Leo Mkhuwala
CHIKWAWA-(MaraviPost)-Contrary to what incumbent President Peter Mutharika did some months ago by deposing Senior Chief Ngabu of Chikwawa District from his position, political leadership has no authority to fire any traditional leader, former President Dr. Joyce Banda whose party is in the grand political coalition “Tonse Alliance” has established.
Addressing mammoth crowds that gathered at Ngabu Sports Club on Saturday, May 22, 2020 for the graduation of 40 tailoring students under the skills training program by Chikwawa Nkombezi legislator, Abida Sidik Mia, the former President who is also leader of People’s Party (PP) said during her leadership, she never fired any traditional leader, as the fact remains that Chiefs and traditional leaders are never appointed by politicians but inherit their authority by way of traditional lineage.
“Government or political leaders should leave matters of chieftaincy to be sorted out by the kindred in the traditional setting and never medal in such affairs,” said Banda.
Before the former leader taking to the podium, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President President, Muhammad Sidik Mia, whose party is among the lead players in Tonse Alliance, promised cotton farmers in Shire Valley and the entire Malawi that the incoming government under the servant leadership of Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his runningmate Dr. Saulos Chilima will be committed to better the lives of cotton farmers mainly through raising selling price to Admarc.
“I emphasized that in Shire Valley, people depend on cotton and the prices that are flouting around are very unreasonable. Worse still, Admarc buys the commodity from farmers on credit to their great disadvantage,” lamented Mia in an interview with the media.
He therefore said the plight of cotton farmers in the valley and everywhere else is reason enough for people to vote for Dr Lazarus Chakwera as President in the proposed June 23, 2020 Presidential Poll.
Mia said people in the valley should vote for Chakwera because he has the welfare of all Malawians including farmers at heart.
Other key speaker was the UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati who categorically condemned the First Lady, Getrude Mutharika for engaging herself in partisan politics as she was recently captured campaigning for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Kaliati said the First Lady’s involvement in campaigning for a particular political party was in contradition with her previous claims that she was a “mother of the nation”.
The occasion was also attended by other leaders in Tonse Alliance like Mark Katsonga, President of PPM and Dr. John Chisi, President of Umodzi Party.