Chiefs in Balaka wants law introduced in primary and secondary school curriculum

Traditional leaders in Balaka on Thursday 6 October asked Government to consider introducing law in primary and secondary school curriculum saying this will help curb the numerous breaking the law. They argued that in the same way that pupils are taught agriculture, bible knowledge and many other subjects, if introduced to law, many will have the knowledge and refrain from breaking it. The suggestion came during European Union funded, chiefs’ consultation on primary justice and mediation process by the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) in which the judiciary and the police were the core facilitators. Speaking during the function Sub Traditional Authority Phimbi said the communities are faced with many cases because people are not aware of the law which he said is necessitating to the moral decay in the communities. He said: “It is time that the law, especially our constitution be part of the curriculum that our children ought to start learning from primary school. This will help the kids to grow knowing the law and some of the crimes that are committed will be minimized.” Senior Chief Chanthunya echoed with Phimbi saying this is a very good suggestion that the Government must consider immediately. “Some of the things pupils learn in school do not directly benefit them, but it is for knowledge, we have heard that plans are under way to introduce Swahili in the curriculum, as they are considering that, let law also be considered,” he added. Commenting on the sidelines of the meeting, Chanthunya said it has come at the right time as it has reminded them of their responsibilities as traditional leaders. “We will go and remind our subordinates to firstly consult us before proceeding here. With the coming of the victim support Unit, people were just coming straight to police, there by congesting it with issues that can be best dealt with by us,” he said. District Civic Education Officer for NICE in Balaka and Ntcheu Henry Zekeria said they wanted to impower chiefs with knowledge and skills on how to handle small cases at community level. “Of late we noted a rise of cases that ought to be handled by chiefs at the police, thus we wanted to incapacitate our chiefs and remind them on their dos and don’ts, so that the police as well as the courts are relieved from these minor cases,” he said Second Grade Magistrate Peter Mkuzi has since advised the chiefs to be servants for the people by avoiding corruption and taking sides. “Some of the issues that are enhancing to communities avoiding you traditional leaders is the fact that you do not give fair judgement, please avoid that, you must be servants for the people,” he said. He therefore cautioned the chiefs to avoid dealing with murder, defilement and lot of serious cases as he said this is meant for the court through the police. Commenting on the plea by the chiefs, Magistrate Mkuzi said this was indeed a good suggestion saying this will help reduce the back load of the cases that are pilling up in our courts.