Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, I would have gone beyond warning chiefs during the installation of Senior Chief Tengani in Nsanje that the law will take its course once they are caught cheating or misusing government money.
If I were bwana Nankhumwa, I would appreciate that while my warning was appropriate, sometimes it is government, through governing politicians, that are in forefront of misleading chiefs to advance their own interests.
I would, therefore, realise that Malata and Cement Subsidy and other initiatives are some of the drives that politicians that are in government, use.
How I wish I were Hon. Nankhumwa because, I would also define my plea that chiefs should work with the government of the day because there are people in government, especially politicians, who abuse chiefs by making them dance to their tune other than work independently because chiefs are not supposed to be used as political stooges.
If I were in Nakhumwa’s shoes, I would have defined “fairness” vividly because some traditional leaders seem to think it means the same as giving ruling party bootlickers and cheerleaders different treatment from the rest of the citizenry.
That is if only I were Nankhumwa, the Minister responsible for Local Government and Rural Development, but alas! It is just a mere wish for I cannot be him!
