By Ephraim Ngwira

Karonga, November 18, Mana: Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Catholic Diocese of Karonga has urged traditional leaders in the district to have well defined and clear succession plans to avoid chieftaincy wrangles.

The bishop made these remarks during the presentation of a MK4 million 2024 Bishop Peace Trophy to the winners.

 The competition featured 35 football clubs, with Chicago FC clinching the trophy after defeating Mlamba FC 1–0 in the finals on Sunday.

“Chiefs are often the root cause of chieftaincy wrangles especially when one is on the throne in an acting capacity and refuses to step down when the rightful heir to the throne is identified.

“This must be avoided. We should do away with the practice of appointing acting chiefs altogether to avoid such wrangles,” said Mtumbuka.

He further urged people in the district to refrain from engaging in political violence as the country is heading towards 2025 General Elections.

“Karonga has been consistently ranked high in political violence. Do not let politicians exploit you as most of them do not even know your names or where you live. When you get injured, you suffer alone,” he said.

Then the bishop said that he was satisfied with how the competition had fostered peace in the district.

“This motivated me to increase next year’s trophy value from MK4 million to MK20 million so that the trophy reaches more youths,” said Mtumbuka.

Paramount Chief Kyungu commended Mtumbuka’s efforts, urging him to continue promoting peace and unity in the district

“Our gathering today is a testimony that peace and unity need to prevail in the district and the country as a whole.

Parents have the duty to instil values of peace, respect, and unity in children from tender age so that these values become part of them as they grow,” said Kyungu.

He also urged people in the district to embrace their culture as their root of identification and refrain stop associating old age with witchcraft and instead love and protect the elderly.