Chief Kawinga accuses government of neglecting Eastern Region chiefs
By Yohane Symon:
Yao Paramount Chief Kawinga has accused the government of neglecting traditional leaders from the Eastern Region when they are ill.
Kawinga was speaking yesterday at the funeral for the late Traditional Authority Bwananyambi who died on Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
“Chiefs from the Eastern Region are not given opportunities to receive treatment at hospitals such as Mwaiwathu Private Hospital and Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital. Chiefs from other regions receive medical treatment at top hospitals in Malawi and abroad,” Kawinga said.
He asked the government to consider treating all chiefs equally as they are not on pension schemes.
Kawinga cited departed T/As Namavi and Katuli of Mangochi District and some from Balaka who died while receiving medical treatment at public hospitals.
In her remarks, Local Government and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Esther Majaza, said the government would come up with ways of putting chiefs on medical scheme.
“Let me respond to the concerns by Paramount Kawinga. The ministry is looking into the welfare of chiefs by, among others things, putting them on medical scheme,” she said.
Majaza hailed the departed Bwananyambi as having been instrumental in ending child marriages.
“Most importantly, we appeal to you to avoid conflicts when choosing a successor to the late Bwananyambi,” she said.
Bwananyambi was born Atinga Saujiya Pande on July 12 1943. She was elevated to a full T/A on June 12 1998.
She is survived by a husband, five children, 50 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren.
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