Traditional Authorities in Machinga District, Eastern part of Malawi have asked Muslims to pay Zakaat as one way of implementing government’s programmes of developing religious and secular educational standards among the youths in the country.
Traditional Authority Chiwalo and senior chief Nyambi said this at Chief Chiwalo head quarters where National Zakaat Fund donated three cows brought to Chiwalo National Zakaat Fund Committee from Mangochi.
The chiefs said the introduction of the National Zakaat Fund Executive Committee is a mile stone to the muslim community is changing the mind set that paying Zakaat is for the Asian muslim community.
The chiefs asked Islamic Non Governmental Organizations to construct schools, hospitals and Islamic Centers in Machinga that will help improve educational standards in the district.
The Member of Parliament for the area Honorable Donnex Mpuzeni was saddened that muslims are poor because the sheikhs neglected their role of teaching the muslims the importance of paying Zakaat.
Honorable Donnex appealed to sheikhs to open up for their followers and teach them the requirements of the pillars that contribute to the development of religious and secular education among the muslim youths.
Traditional Authorities Chikwewo, Mgokwe, Kapoloma, Nkoola and senior chief Nyambi attended the presentation of the donation.
About 92 beneficiaries from 26 Masjids (mosques) from Machinga South East have benefited form the donation.
