Government has urged members of the deceased family of late Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Ntholowa to follow right steps when choosing a successor to avoid chieftaincy wrangles.
Minister of Natural Resources Energy and Mining Aggrey Masi said this Sunday during the burial ceremony of STA Ntholowa at Ntholowa Village.
He said death of STA Ntholowa is a big loss as he provided counseling in cases of subjects’ disagreements and direction on development issues.
The Minister who represented the State President, Prof. Peter Mutharika called on the family members to follow proper procedures when deciding on the next Sub Chief Ntholowa.
“Follow proper steps when choosing the successor to avoid disputes which delays processes of deciding on a successor,” the minister added following reports from the Zomba District Council that Nkumbira, Mwambo and Kuntumanje areas have no Traditional Authirties (TAs) due to chieftaincy wrangles,” Masi observed.
District Commissioner (DC) for Zomba Emmanuel Bambe described the late STA Ntholowa as peace loving and honest chief who had a clean record.
“The death of STA Ntholowa is a loss,” the DC said adding that Ntholowa’s death comes when the district has vacancies of traditional leadership in other areas following chieftaincy disputes that fail to be resolved.
“Nkumbira area has no TA for nine years, Mwambo has no TA for almost 10 years and at one time Kuntumanje spent nine years without a TA,” Bambe pointed out.
The DC said it is sad that the Kuntumanje wrangle fails to fade as family members continue to fight for leadership.
He expressed hope that the family of late STA Ntholowa would not allow this to happen.
Group Village Head Kamwendo under STA Ntholowa assured the District Council that no chieftaincy wrangles would arise from the Ntholowa family.
He said traditional leaders would sit with the family to discuss better ways of choosing the successor to ensure order and good reputation.
“We will discuss the issue about a successor this coming Tuesday,” Kamwendo said amidst concerns of chieftaincy wrangles in Zomba.
The late STA Ntholowa was born Jeffery Makatanje collapsed at his house Friday morning and was rushed to Zomba Central Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Ntholowa became an entity of STA status in 2001 after Senior Chief Chikowi who later became Paramount chief recommended that Makatanje should head the Nasawa, Chimwalira areas and other parts of Zomba Thondwe constituency.
The late STA Ntholowa was born in 1940 according to his national identity card and he survived with a wife, four children, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
According to Zomba District Council the late Sub Traditional Authority once worked as Post Master in what is now called Malawi Postal Cooperation before being installed to his position for 17 years.
He was a Lhomwe traditional leader and was a dedicated member of Providence Industrial Mission (PIM).
