Chief Kyungu hits at critics over Bingu Highway: ‘Some Malawians are ungrateful’

Chief Kyungu of Karonga has hit at critics over the government decision to name the Karonga-Chitipa Road to Bingu Highway, saying some Malawians are ungrateful.

“I know some sections of the society will insult me, but this is what all chiefs and members of parliament from Karonga and Chitipa agreed that we rename the road after Bingu.

“It is just a coincidence that this is coming at a time you are our President. Please blame us for this decision, they should not blame you,” said the traditional leader.

He said the chiefs and legislators wanted to respect the former head of state post humously because of getting the grant from the Chinese government to construct the road.

Kyungu said this on Friday when President Peter Mutharika went there to visit flood victims.

“History will absorb us that we honoured Bingu post humously. We made a right decision together with all our MPs,” he said.

However reports indicate that some opposition MPs, including Speaker of National Assembly, are against the idea.

But Chief Kyungu said as custodians of culture and tradition and honours of the land, the chiefs had powers to make a decision on such matters.

“The former president did a great job here. We now travel 30 to 40 minutes. What should somebody do for you to say thank you. Everybody, including politicians from all political parties are using the road,” he said.

There has been strong opposition from some people on the decision to name the road after Bingu, the third after Bingu International Conference Centre and Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe.

However, the leader of the pressure group Steven Simusokwe condemned Kyungu’s speech saying “it is undemocratic.”

He then said his group will continue pressuring government to reverse the decision by holding a massive demonstration.

In his few minutes address to his followers at Baka community ground in Karonga the north of Malawi, Mutharika said that the suggestion was from traditional leaders and not his party.

According to him, only his late Brother and DPP government managed to construct the road hence deserve the name.

“Starting from the colonial, one party and United Democratic Front era, they all failed to construct this road apart from DPP. And on top of that it is your chiefs who proposed the name Bingu high-way through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development which was approved after following the right procedure, as such I therefore declared it,” said Muthalika.

Before holding the rally Muthalika visited over flood victims 1000 at Kakoma the north of Karonga, where he donated K5 million as part of relief aid.