Huambo- The king of Bailundo (Angola central Huambo province), Tchongolola Tchongonga, "Ekuikui VI", on Monday urged chieftains to apply their authority in traditional trials in communities, with respect to human rights and for the sake of the citizens.
The sovereign made the statement during a training seminar held in Bailundo, with the participation of 280 traditional authorities from the provinces’ 11 municipalities.
King Ekuikui VI said the seminar was intended to discourage the inhumane trials that take place in some of the province's municipalities and the exorbitant fees that are charged to alleged plaintiffs during legal sessions organized by traditional authorities.
The sovereign admitted that there are traditional authorities who make judgments whose sentences end in inhumane corrective acts that do not conform to the norms established by the Angolan state.
He recalled that the traditional authorities are partners of the state, as set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Angola, urging chieftains to know their role and the basic rules of administration of customary law to avoid dramatic situations and inhumane acts in the communities.
The king called on the traditional authorities to help retrieve the cultural values, habits and customs that identify the Ovimbundu population concentrated in Huambo province.
Bernardo Firmino Tchiakassi, chieftain of Huambo, on his turn, praised the initiative to promote the event aimed at traditional authorities, which will help to strengthen their knowledge to better manage issues inside the communities.
In his view, the traditional authorities in the communities have to promote the well-being of the citizens, and they cannot be the ones to incite cases of violence resulting from the misapplication of customary law.
The province has five kingdoms: Bailundo, Tchingolo, Tchiyaka, Sambo and Huambo. LT/JSV/ALH
