Malawi’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Ulemu Jermoth Chilapondwa has commended President Joyce Banda for promoting and elevating chiefs in the country.
Chilapondwa made the commendation in Parliament on Tuesday during his contribution to the State of-the-Nation Address by the President on Friday last week.
“This is a welcome development since chiefs play a crucial role and are custodians of development,” he said.
Chilapondwa observed that parliamentarians cannot go to an area to implement development projects without consulting traditional leaders and their subjects.
He said traditional leaders and their subjects are vital in identifying development projects; hence, the need to give them the support as a motivation.
Chilapondwa, therefore, asked government to ensure that more traditional leaders are elevated and promoted to higher levels.
He also hailed government for giving chiefs salaries, who he said work tirelessly with people in the villages in a number of activities and in settling disputes among their subjects.
