Speaking during celebrations to mark forty-years of Lundu paramount chieftaincy, the president however warned chiefs against being promiscuous and having extra-marital affairs.

Earlier, the reigning paramount chief Lundu had complained of increasing tendencies where many were rushing to get court injunctions against installations of chiefs even when they were not of the royal lineage.

“Your Excellency, let me complain that these courts are meddling so much in chieftaincy issues because of unnecessary injunctions they grant to impostors people trying to grab chieftainship of others. Let me say openly that no court can install a chief, and you judiciary people know that we chiefs don’t meddle in your affairs and hence don’t choke ours through the injunctions you are granting,” said the Chief.

Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo attended the function and was seated in the front roll of the presidential podium, facing the one that housed Lundu and other chiefs.

The chief’s sentiments ignited similar concerns from the president, who during his speech urged the judiciary to reconsider its position on injunctions on chieftainship wrangles.

“Let me ask courts to first refer issues of chieftainship wrangles back to chiefs since issues of that nature hinge on blood line which can best be traced by these traditional chiefs. I feel pity to hear people getting injunctions in chieftainship wrangles and like the paramount chief here, it disturbs me,” said Mutharika.

He, however, advised the chiefs to handle such issues with transparency should they be referred to them. Mutharika said it was imperative that if there is a chieftainship wrangle, a paramount chief should seek assistance of other paramount chiefs like so as to ensure diversity of wisdom.

Seemingly, in high spirits and accompanied by new-found-love Callista Chimombo, Mutharika urged Malawians to respect traditional chiefs whom he said were a pillar of cultural values and Malawi’s traditional fabric.

While advising Malawians to respect chiefs for the role they play in upholding culture and tradition, Mutharik,a however, asked the traditional leaders to be exemplary.

He said it was sad that instead of teaching good morals to the society some chiefs were at the peak of immoral behaviour.

“Chiefs must be exemplary, it is shocking that instead of teaching their subjects good tradition values, some chiefs go to the extent of having extra-marital affairs hence demonstrating bad examples. You chiefs should teach us good morals, don’t have numerous women, dozens and dozens everywhere as if they are disposable shoes,” he said.

Mutharika said for the sake of demonstrating good morals chiefs ought to follow customary procedures in their marriages. He said in case of those who for religious reasons are allowed to be polygamous, procedures must be followed and the first wife should be consulted, stressing it was bad for the traditional leaders to lead promiscuous life.
 
The celebrations’ organising committee chair, Downs Theka, earlier asked the president to change the name of the district from Chikwawa to Chikhwawa, saying the Mang’anja people would take such a change as an honour befitting the day.

“Your Excellency, the present name of Chikwawa was a corruption by the white colonialists for the name of Chikhwawa which is the right wording and pronunciation. The district is named after the vast valley which is a  predominant feature in the district,” he said.

Mutharika, ordered that the district immediately revert to its original name of Chikhwawa.

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