Lilongwe city council tells block leaders to go to polls

Block leaders in the Capital, Lilongwe have been forced to resign or go to polls to renew their mandate.

In a letter to all block leaders fondly dubbed chiefs by their supporters, say all block leaders should step side in view of the forthcoming elections.

However the block leaders have hit back, saying they would not resign and the polls have been organised in bad faith.

One of the block leaders Allan Chapondera said they were not consulted before the decision was arrived at a council meeting last month.

“Our response to their demand is no,” said Chapondera.

However mayor of the city Willy  Chapondera (not related to the block leader) said the block leaders are just adamant for nothing shows their lack of understanding of issues.

He said the council will chat the way forward.

The government last year declared the positions of block leaders irrelevant and subsequently dissolved all such positions irrelevant, a move that sparked controversy and led to the dismissal of Local Government minister Tarcious Gowelo.