Community members in Traditional Authority Mwenewenya in Chitipa District have asked duty-bearers to construct a new court building in the area to enhance the delivery of justice.
In an interview yesterday, Wenya Area Development Committee (ADC) chairperson Grace Kayira said the current court building is dilapidated as it was constructed in 1959.
She said: “We need a new court structure at Wenya Headquarters. As a community, we are ready to provide building materials such as bricks and dambo sand as part of our 25 percent contribution.
“The new court will enhance justice delivery and create a conducive working environment.”
Asked whether the committee has ever received a formal proposal from the village development committee (VDC) through village action plan (VAP), Kayira said that could be an oversight on the part of the VDC that prioritised a community hall instead of the traditional court.
“The VDC in its VAPs submitted a request for a community hall for income- generating activities for the area. However, we need the traditional court,” she said.
However, in an interview, Chitipa district director of public works Misheck Gondwe said the council does not have plans to construct a traditional court at Wenya Headquarters.
He said: “Projects originate from VDCs which present their VAPs to the ADC. It is the ADC that takes it to the council for service committees to deliberate and finally full council.
“The approved projects are then put in annual investment plan for implementation based on the availability of funds.”
Wenya is located 100 kilometres from Chitipa Boma where the magistrate’s court is situated.
