Chief urged to champion change
Minister of Local Government Blessings Chinsinga has urged Traditional Authority (T/A) Zilakoma of Nkhata Bay District to champion mindset change among his subjects in line with the country’s long-term development plan, Malawi 2063 (MW2063).
He said this on Friday after installing Wellingtone Joab Longwe as T/A Zilakoma.
Said Chinsinga: “As custodians of people and as custodians of cultural values, chiefs have a critical role to facilitate mindset change, which is a number one enabler for different development targets set in this development blue print.”
He advised the new chief and other traditional leaders to be transparent and accountable to their people.
Senior Chief Mkumbira, who represented other chiefs at the ceremony, commended the ministry for installing Zilakoma, saying power vacuum stalls development.
“However, I ask the minister to review the honoraria for chiefs and to speed up construction of chiefs’ houses,” he said.
The installation ceremony was supposed to take place at T/A Zilakoma’s headquarters at Tukombo, but due to the cholera outbreak in the district, it was held in the district council chamber where a limited number of people was allowed to attend.
The new chief becomes the seventh person to ascend to the throne in Zilakoma chieftaincy.
The Zilakoma throne fell vacant after the death of the sixth Zilakoma, Samuel Longwe on February 17 2022.
