Mchinji — Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Christopher Makileni, on Thursday assured traditional leaders in Mchinji who haven’t been receiving their honorarium since February that they will soon receive their honorarium arrears soon as Government has released money for the exercise.

Makileni was speaking during a meeting his ministry together with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Rachel Mazombwe Zulu, held with chiefs in Mchinji North constituency.

“I would like to announce here that Government has released K312 million for the 20, 000 chiefs countrywide that did not receive their honorarium from February this year,” he said.

Makileni was speaking after the minister of Local Government told the chiefs present at the meeting that government will continue to put chiefs on honorarium.

Zulu promised the chiefs in her constituency gathered at Mkanda Community Day Secondary School, that it is government’s agenda to look into the welfare of chiefs as they are custodians of culture and a lot of people in their communities.

She, therefore, called upon the chiefs to promote development in their various communities and work to complement the government’s efforts in development.

“I would like to urge you all to be development oriented and work towards implementing governments efforts on development, it is your duty to support the government of the day,” she said.

The minister, therefore, called upon the chiefs to inform their communities to vote wisely in the forth coming tripartite elections and vote for leaders who are development conscious.