By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, February 6, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda says chiefs play a significant role in uniting people and has asked them to do more in ensuring justice is delivered at the community level.
Chimwendo Banda said this on Wednesday during the elevation of Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire and Group Village Head Mwenekayilizi to Senior Chief Nthalire and Sub-TA Mwenekayilizi respectively at Nthalire Community Stadium in Chitipa District.
Chimwendo Banda said that chiefs need to do more to make sure that justice is delivered at the community level even when distributing social protection programmes like the Affordable Input Programme and lean season maize distribution programmes.
“We need chiefs to help government in promoting justice and fairness by making sure that vulnerable people are not being victimized. We want to ensure that people are receiving food aid as per the government guidelines,” Chimwendo Banda said.
He then asked chiefs to protect vulnerable people when discharging their duties, saying it is against government policies and laws to side with those who infringe on vulnerable people’s properties like land.
“We have cases of chiefs who have grabbed the land of orphans after the death of their parents. We urge all the chiefs in the country to make sure that we protect vulnerable people,” he said.
Paramount Chief Kyungu asked the chiefs to promote unity and peace for the country to flourish.
“For the country to be united it should start at the community level. Chiefs have a great role to play in fostering unity and peace,” he said.
Chitipa District Council Chairperson, Councillor Ronald Kayira, thanked State President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for elevating two traditional leaders which he said is a plus in the district.
Senior Chief Nthalire and Sub-TA Mwenekayilizi were elevated on 3rd February 2025 by Dr Chakwera.
