By Isaac Salima:
President Lazarus Chakwera has called on the newly installed Paramount Chief Kaduya to promote coexistence among people.
He said this at Mpasa Primary School in Phalombe District Thursday, when he presided over the installation of the traditional leader.
Kaduya, who was senior chief, is now paramount chief for the Lhomwe people.
“I urge you to equip yourself with necessary weapons of addressing differences so that people coexist. One way of fostering unity is to amicably resolve differences. Love everybody, even those you know do not like you,” Chakwera said.
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The President further said one way of promoting unity among Lhomwe people and all Malawians is to ensure that everybody benefits from development activities.
“I, therefore, challenge you to ensure that development works are sustained so that they benefit all people. Lhomwes and all people should feel proud of being citizens of this country because that is their constitutional right. I always tell [Cabinet] ministers to implement development works without considering where one comes from because our role is to serve all Malawians,” he said.
The President said it is for this reason that his government increased Constituency Development Fund allocations from K40 million to K100 million per constituency per annum so that development activities can spread across the country.
Chakwera also said people should not listen to those who claim that the government has been sidelining Lhomwes.
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“I know that there are some people who go around telling people that I do not have people’s welfare at heart [and], yet, they know that fertiliser and maize which are being distributed in their areas are [being distributed] courtesy of my government. I know that some people, who do not wish the country well, are claiming that I do not care about challenges that people from the south are experiencing following the effects of Cyclone Freddy [and], yet, they know that when that accident happened, I left everything and camped here in order to serve the people well. I know that you [Paramount Kaduya] will meet such kind of people but do not mind them but love everybody,” he said.
Kaduya, whose real name is Stellia Munyama, has been in acting capacity following the death of Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa five years ago.
Chakwera also assured the gathering that Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation markets are stocked with maize so that people can freely buy the grain as they wait for the harvest.
Local Government, Unity and Culture Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda said Kaduya’s elevation is a sign of government’s commitment to empower women in the country so that they take up leadership positions.
Earlier in the day, Chakwera launched this year’s tree-planting season at Mpasa Hill, where Natural Resources and Climate Change Minister Michael Usi urged people to participate in forestry season activities and take good care of planted trees.
The government says about 34 million trees will be planted this season.
