Sosola Shrugs off “No kingdoms” — Appoints Chewa Chiefs Council.

Kalonga Sosola IX has questioned the historical basis for the government’s position that there are no kingdoms in Malawi, arguing that there is no European documentary evidence, in his view, conclusively showing that the country’s traditional kingdoms were abolished.

The Kalonga writting on his official facebook page said he was encouraged by the absence of what he described as documents from European authorities showing that the kingdoms of Malawi’s traditional rulers were formally brought to an end.

“Tili okondwa kuti mulibe ma documents azungu omwe anathetsela ma kingdom amafumu aku Malawi,” he said.

His comments come as the government’s position on kingdoms has triggered a fresh national debate over Malawi’s traditional institutions, their historical status and the powers that traditional leaders should exercise.

For Sosola, however, the issue is not settled.

He says the powers of traditional leaders must be restored.

“Chinthuchi chagwedeza dziko, mphavu za mafumu zibwerere,” he said.

The Kalonga also accused politicians of weakening traditional leadership over many years, arguing that chiefs have increasingly found themselves caught up in political interests.

“Mamfumu mwawakhapila kosathwa zaka zambiri, mamfumu akhala makasu kwa andale,” he said.

He further directed his criticism at the Ministry of Local Government, saying government should recognise traditional leaders and the communities they represent.

“Inu akuunduna Local Government, yakwana nthawi muwadziwe eni ake mamfumu ndi anthu,” Sosola said.

He expressed confidence that the traditional leadership would ultimately prevail in the dispute.

“Ka nkhani kameneka tikawina chakum’mawa,” he said.

Then came the Chiefs Council.

Sosola’s response has now been followed by a concrete organisational move.

His office has appointed a 21-member Chiefs’ Council, bringing together traditional leaders from several districts to work under his leadership.

The appointments were made on 1 September 2026 and officially announced on 5 September.

Gogo S.C. Chadza of Lilongwe has been appointed Chair of the council, with Gogo S.C. Millima of Chikwawa as Vice Chair and Gogo S.C. Kaluluma of Kasungu as Second Vice Chair.

Other members come from Chikwawa, Thyolo, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Mchinji, Ntchisi, Mangochi, Nkhata Bay, Nsanje, Salima and Dedza.

The council is expected to work with the Kalonga’s office on matters concerning traditional leadership, unity, coordination, and the administration and preservation of Chewa culture, traditions and heritage.

The move gives Sosola’s traditional leadership structure a wider national footprint at a time when kingdoms in Malawi is being openly contested by the government.

Sosola said the traditional leaders appointed to the council would be responsible for handling cases involving Chewa people.

“Mamfumu omwe aziweluza milandu ya Achewa m’Malawi muno ndi amenewa,” he said.

That places the Chewa Chiefs’ Council at the centre of Sosola’s broader vision for traditional leadership not simply as an administrative body, but as an institution through which traditional leaders can coordinate, resolve disputes and preserve cultural heritage.

The Kingdom Question

The development comes at a particularly sensitive moment.

Government’s position that Malawi has no kingdoms has brought renewed attention to the traditional political structures that existed before the creation of the modern Malawian state.

Sosola’s response challenges that position from a historical perspective.

His argument is that if there are no documentary records showing that the kingdoms were formally abolished, then the question of their continued existence cannot simply be dismissed.

That is a position that could fuel further debate among traditional leaders, historians, government officials and communities whose identities are closely connected to Malawi’s traditional institutions.

For Sosola, the issue appears far from over.

And by appointing a Chiefs’ Council with members drawn from across the country, he has now placed an organisational structure behind his argument.

The kingdom debate, therefore, is no longer only about what existed in Malawi’s past.

For Sosola, the kingdom question is far from settled. And with the creation of the Chiefs’ Council, he appears ready to put his position into practice leaving government and traditional leaders with a much bigger question to answer: who has the authority to define the place of Malawi’s traditional kingdoms?