Six traditional leaders have died in Malawi since April, leaving several chieftaincy positions vacant.
The government says delays in replacing the deceased chiefs can disrupt development in affected communities.
Director of Chiefs Administration in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Charles Makanga said this on Wednesday during the burial ceremony of Traditional Authority Mdunga at Mbongozi in Kasungu.
Makanga says the six traditional leaders died between April and September this year across the country.
He said the government is worried whenever a community remains without a chief because traditional leaders are central to local governance and development.
“When an area has no chief, things become disorganised. We are asking royal families not to take too long before identifying someone to take over,” he said.
He urged royal families to sit down and agree on successors according to their traditions, saying prolonged succession wrangles often delay development projects.
Makanga said the ministry does not want to see families fighting over chieftaincy positions.
He cited Mchinji as an example where a royal family agreed on a successor shortly after the burial of a chief, describing it as a model other districts should emulate.
“If families agree quickly and submit a name to the ministry, many of these disputes will reduce in Malawi,” he said.
Presidential Advisor on Peace and Unity David Kambalame, who represented President Peter Mutharika at the funeral, said the President was deeply saddened by the death of TA Mdunga.
Kambalame described chiefs as pillars of peace, unity, and development and urged Malawians to remain united despite political, religious, or ethnic differences while serving their communities.
Political leaders, religious leaders, and representatives of various ethnic groups attended the burial ceremony.
Traditional Authority Mdunga died last Friday at the age of 84 while receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
