Maravi

Failures shouldn’t seek re-election - Fr Phiri

Failures shouldn’t seek re-election - Fr Phiri
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thu 27 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT

LEADERS who seek re-election but have failed to deliver should feel ashamed, says Fr Andrew Chenjerani Phiri. Fr Phiri, who is Chipata Diocese pastoral coordinator, said it was sad that Nyampande had been neglected in many areas.

“It’s bad that the government has not been represented here. I’m appealing to senior chief Kalindawalo to inform government that we are disappointed by the failure of government officials to come and celebrate with us during the blessing and the handover of the church. Tell them that they have offended us here in Nyamphande area,” said Fr Phiri during the handover of St Peters Catholic Church to the people of chief Nyamphande’s area in Petauke’s Msanzala constituency on Sunday.

“Very soon these people will come to ask for votes. Are these voters going to come from heaven? It’s you. If I was a chief I would have banned all the politicians from doing their campaigns in Nyamphande’s chiefdom.”

He said despite various campaign promises, Nyamphande area remained underdeveloped.

“Whether they do their campaigns here or not the people here will be as they were in the beginning, now and forever. The people you voted for who are not seen during developmental programmes and they come to only ask for votes again, how are they going to foster development this time around?” he said. “If there is any elected leader here who received a vote from my mother, my father and my grandparent but you didn’t show up for developmental programmes, you should feel ashamed with that vote. Look at this road Nyamphande. I think the two chiefs know that during Dr Kaunda’s time this road was being graded up to the tarmac.”

Fr Phiri said it was sad that the government had not put a bridge at Matonga but would be quick to ask for votes.

“If they politicians come to ask for votes from you I think you should inform me so that they could talk to me first. People do not just need spiritual development because a person cannot come and pray if he is sick, when he is hungry. We want we and the government to move together,” Fr Phiri said.

He said the people of Kapyela area were asking him to find well-wishers who could help build a hospital in the area.

“I know the people’s request is in the hands of the government and not me alone. When I get sick I go to Kalichero’s Mzeyi Mission Hospital in Chipata so that’s where I was. What about you? did your MP Msanzala MMD parliamentarian Peter Daka build a hospital for you? We are expecting government to build the hospital that people are looking for,” Fr Phiri said.

He asked chiefs Kalindawalo and Nyamphande to tell the government about the cries of the people in Petauke.

Fr Phiri was very instrumental in the construction of the church that was handed over to the local people by Diocesan Bishop George Lungu.

Bishop Lungu also announced that the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese Fr Benjamin Phiri would be installed on April 9 at St Anne’s Cathedral in Chipata.

The handover ceremony was also attended by priests, nuns and brothers that hail from Petauke District.

Labels: CHIEF KALINDAWALO MNDIKULA

posted by MrK @ 4:39 AM