Mpezeni counsels chiefs mistreating subjects

Mpezeni counsels chiefs mistreating subjects
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 24 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in Eastern Province on Saturday urged chiefs to stop mistreating their subjects. And police recorded a statement from a chief retainer after he assaulted a person at chief Sairi’s palace.

Installing chief Sairi the fifth (Chimsakasa Jere), Mpezeni said chiefs should always respect their subjects.

“You are not supposed to tie people to a tree and whip them. Just advise them, they will listen because they are people. You know its like a child, if you beat your child every day, he will not listen to you because just a word is enough for a person,” Mpezeni said.

He advised chief Sairi not to engage in bad activities that could ruin his standing as chief.

“I had two gaps, now after this installation, I am remaining with Mshawa chiefdom where there is no chief. Chief Sairi, we have made you chief, you should respect people, respect their houses because everything will be very easy to you because you are a chief.

You should not engage yourself in corrupt activities but you should instead be a straightforward person,” Mpezeni said. “Keep your people the way your (late) father used to do. Respect the people because they are the people who made you chief. I don’t want to hear, let’s say, tomorrow that you are whipping people because as a chief you are supposed to only whip a person using words.”

He said chiefs were like God's eyes on the people that they looked after in their chiefdoms.

“Look after your people properly even those that demean you, they are your people. There could be some who might be saying you are not a chief and the like, leave them, you are Sairi yourself. I know most of the times when you talk too much you end up making a mistake so I don't want to make a mistake, I therefore end here,” said Mpezeni.

The installation was also attended by some Ngoni chiefs from Malawi.

And police recorded a statement from one of the chief's retainers who assaulted a man at the installation arena.

The retainer, who was clearing the arena just before the installation, was allegedly irritated by the victim, Akiele Chilinda of Manyunda village, and kicked him on the mouth with a boot.

The victim sustained a big cut on the lips.

According to some police officers, the victim was taken to a local clinic after the incident and the retainer kept a very low profile throughout the event.