Chakwera Presiding over the Inaugural of National Chiefs Forum

His Excellency the State President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, is this morning presiding over the inaugural National Chiefs Forum on Integrated Natural Resources Management and Transition to Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods in Malawi.

This is an initiative that incorporates traditional leaders as stewards of forests and natural resources in the country. It primarily elevates the participation and leadership of chiefs in the usage and conservation of land, forests and natural resources.

The forum seeks to reverse widespread deforestation which has seen the loss of over a lot of forest cover due to wanton cutting down of trees and deliberate depletion of the environment.

The chief’s forum is coordinated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, along with collaborative partners including the USAID-funded AFIDEP-led BUILD project.

The initiative augurs well President Chakwera’s development agenda in which chiefs are a core component through which government can easily push through development.

Since his assumption of office, Dr Chakwera has advocated for proper utilization of chiefs by government in view of the influence they exert on social issues within communities.

This is a total departure from tendencies of previous regimes who abused chiefs by forcing them to promote errant causes.

Among those attending the function are Vice President Right Honourable Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, cabinet ministers, district commissioners, traditional leaders, representatives from development partners and members of the general public.