By Sungani Nyoni
President Peter Mutharika says patriotism and integrity are the most important pillars that could enable chiefs in the country to discharge their duties effectively.
Mutharika said this on Saturday at Thyolo Community Centre ground at an elevation ceremony of Laelo Costa Juma from Traditional Authority to Senior Chief Ngolongoliwa.
He said without patriotism and integrity, chiefs cannot discharge their duties as expected and as a result they can easily be subjected to favouritism and other corrupt practices.
“As chiefs, you need not to favour one side and discriminate against the other subjects. You need to ensure that they are all loved and protected,” he said adding, “You need not to abuse your people by among other things grabbing their land and threatening them.”
Professor Mutharika then promised to discipline all chiefs who would be reported and found abusing their powers.
“This is my final warning to all chiefs who are abusing their subjects in one way or the other. I have reports that some of you are threatening your subjects and abusing them. Please stop because if you cannot, then you will have to be relieved from your duties,” warned Mutharika.
He then described the newly elevated Chief Ngolongoliwa as a strong and hardworking.
“Senior Chief Ngolongoliwa is hard working and has a strong spirit. He has been with us all this while. Apart from that, he is a reliable asset in as far as spearheading developmental projects such as Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (DAHSP) and Local Development Fund related projects are concerned. I am therefore urging all chiefs in the country to emulate the spirit,” added Mutharika.
He then called on Malawians to refrain from backbiting but rather embrace a hardworking spirit as laziness and dependency syndrome such as relying much on handouts could not develop the country.
On the current food situation, the state president said the challenges that the country is facing could be dealt with by coordination among all relevant stakeholders on how to deal with malpractices in the Admarc depots.
“We have all noted that the main challenge in these depots is the issue of vendors who are buying the staple grain at a cheap price and sell it a higher price. This is not acceptable because the poor Malawians out there are suffering.
“I am therefore urging all chiefs and relevant officials to put in place measures that can deal with the malpractice because this is not a one man’s job,” explained Mutharika.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa commended President Mutharika for elevating Ngolongoliwa saying the gesture symbolizes that the president understands the importance of chiefs in the development of the country.
In his remarks, Senior Chief Lukwa observed the need for all cultures in the country to start promoting their traditions and values by strengthening their various heritages as this could be a source of revenue.
“The heritages such as Mulhako wa Alhomwe can be a source of revenue to the country apart from preserving different cultures.
“This can be facilitated through the Ministry of Information and Tourism. We need therefore to work hand in hand for us to achieve this,” said Lukwa.
Lukwa therefore asked the president to consider constructing a better house; court room and an office for Senior Chief Ngolongoliwa that would enable him discharge his duties as a chief effectively and comfortably.
According to Philip Ngoliwa who is a family relation to the chief, Juma was elevated to Sub T/A in 2010 before he ascended to full T/A on 8 August 2014. On December 22, 2015, he was elevated to the current position.
