Traditional Authority (T/A) Ngolongoliwa of Thyolo District has asked all chiefs in the Lhomwe belt to be peaceful and promote unity among them, cautioning that fighting will only deny them development.
The chief made the remarks on Friday at a press briefing at his Mtunda Wosema headquarters where 48 group village heads (GVHs) were in attendance.
Ngolongoliwa, appeared to be reacting to a story aired by Capital Radio in which villagers in GVH Ntholola under sub-T/A Nanseta in the district claimed that he is denying them some services such as security by police and Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) coupons.
Ngolongoliwa said he was worried that instead of working together, sub-T/A Nanseta was inciting revolt against him.
“At what point does my office control who should receive Fisp coupons? Chiefs must build society and not divide it because without unity, development is impossible,” said Ngolongoliwa.
He further asked chiefs in the country to observe their official boundaries and follow proper channels to resolve boundary disputes as opposed to inciting revolts against each other.
Nanseta could not be reached on his phone, but sub-T/A Boyidi, who is third in rank in the area formerly under T/A Chimaliro, said complaints against T/A Ngolongoliwa were unfounded. He said he has advised Ngolongoliwa to resolve the matter with Nanseta through dialogue.
“Our area, which was formerly under T/A Chimaliro now has three T/As—Ngolongoliwa as a full T/A, myself and Nanseta as sub-T/As, why should we be fighting?,” wondered Boyidi.
