Ministry of Local Government has asked royal families of Senior Chief Mkanda and Traditional Authority (T/A) Nyoka of Mchinji District to follow procedures when appointing successors to the chieftaincies to avoid disputes.

Minister of Local Government Blessings Chinsinga and his deputy Halima Daud said this on Wednesday when they attended burials of the two late chiefs in the district.

Speaking during the burial of Senior Chief Mkanda, Chinsinga asked the royal family to quickly appoint the heir to the chieftaincy.

“But follow procedures to avoid misunderstandings,” he said.

A casket carrying Mkanda’s (L) remains and
another carrying Nyoka’s body

King of the Chewa people in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique Kalonga Gawa Undi also encouraged the Chewa to follow procedures in appointing a successor.

Speaking at the burial of T/A Nyoka, Daud asked royal families to engage dialogue and involve other traditional leaders to settle chieftaincy wrangles rather than involving courts.

She was responding to Inkosi Mpezeni of Zambia and Senior Chief Mlonyeni who reiterated that they would like chieftaincy issues to be handled by traditional leaders.

Daud commended the Nyoka royal family for presenting an heir to the throne during the burial.

Mkanda, 86, died last Friday at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe while Nyoka died last Saturday aged 79 at the same hospital.

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