Director of Chiefs in the Ministry of Local Government, Charles Makanga, has clarified that President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was not involved in the selection of Senior Chief Kaduya of Phalombe to become Paramount Chief of the Lhomwe people.

Makanga was reacting to banters some disgruntled Lhomwe chiefs made against Chakwera, accusing the Head of State of imposing of a Mang’anja chief on them.

The concerned Lhomwe chiefs, who addressed journalists in Thyolo on Friday, claimed that Kaduya is not Lhomwe by tribe and, therefore, not fit to be overall queen among the Lhomwes.

Mulhakho wa Alhomwe board chairperson, Mutchanakhwayi Mpuluka, said he believes that there is a hand that is trying to divide the clan, arguing that most of the disgruntled chiefs attended a chiefs meeting a week ago where they supported the decision.

But Makanga wondered why President Chakwera should be drawn into the selection of a traditional leader, stressing that this is a matter that can best be handled at cultural level.

He stated the Mulhakho wa Alhomwe Heritage Foundation could better explain the reasons it selected Senior Chief Kaduya because the President simply approved and installed as a Lhomwe Paramount Chief yesterday.

Makanga said it was the cultural grouping that selected and submitted the name of the chief for approval.