Matiya says the council needs a unified block to develop the district.

“We are going to focus on the relationship between councilors, members of parliament (MPs) and the secretariat because as a council we need to move as a block to achieve what people are expecting from us, he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Chimaliro of the district has also urged Mathiya and his vice Hudson Ovila to work with MPs amid disputes between councilors and legislators which he observed, derail development.

“Disputes among MPs and councilors derail development and injure beneficiaries,” Chimaliro said.

Matiya and Ovila have taken over from Cresco Likwezembe and Elisha Chiuta unopposed respectively.