Maravi

Chief Puta urges respectful criticism of leaders

Chief Puta urges respectful criticism of leaders
Written by Agness Changala
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:39:55 AM

SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile people in Chiengi district has called on Zambians to criticise leaders in a respectful way. And chief Puta disclosed that his chiefdom has recorded a reduction in early marriages.

In an interview, chief Puta said he was not happy with the current situation in the country where leaders were being insulted and put to shame in public.

“I am saddened by the current situation in this country because if you insult the leaders we choose, we are also insulting ourselves,” he said.

He said the current trend of incumbent leaders accusing former leaders of having stolen was not good as it had the potential to bring tension in the country.

“In 1991 when Chiluba came into power, he was saying Kenneth Kaunda stole, the new deal government also took Chiluba to court on the same basis,” he said.

Chief Puta alleged that as a result of such actions, the taskforce, which he accused of not doing much, was formed just to waste resources.

He said the task force had used a lot of money which could have benefited many Zambians if pumped into the health sector.

And chief Puta said the Bwile Royal Establishment Council (BREC) had introduced an association for headmen to discourage early marriages among people who were below the age of 18.

“The village headmen association whose chairperson and vice chairperson are headmen Sakala and Chilinda respectively are sensitising people on the dangers of early marriages,” chief Puta said.

He said the chiefdom had a very big field for orphans and vulnerable people where those who disobeyed the order were taken to work, saying this was deterring parents from marrying off their children at a tender age.

Chief Puta said the chiefdom only supported marriages of people who were above 18 years and that this decision had been communicated to headmasters in various schools to ensure that they discouraged their pupils from getting married at tender ages.

Labels: CHIEF PUTA, LEADERSHIP

posted by MrK @ 9:41 AM