Government has urged traditional rulers that did not received vehicles from government to exercise patient because more vehicles would be bought to cater for them.
Community Development and Social Services deputy minister Friday Malwa, said buying of chiefs’ vehicles is an ongoing programme until all of them are mobile.
Mr. Malwa was speaking at senior chief Mburuma’s palace in Luangwa district yesterday when he officiated at this year’s Mbambara traditional ceremony of the Nsenga-luzi people.
He said government has the welfare of the traditional rulers at heart hence the decision to buy them vehicles to enhance their movement in the supervision and monitoring of development programmes in their chiefdoms.
Mr Malwa also said government will continue to support traditional ceremonies as they provide an ideal platform to discuss developmental issues aimed at uplifting people’s living standards.
He observed that the people of Luangwa are talented in making artifacts such as baskets, reed mats and other crafts which they should display at ceremonies such as the Mbambara for sale to tourists and other visitors.
On agriculture, Mr Malwa said government has already sent 740 X 50kg bags of top dressing and an equal number of basal fertilizer to Luangwa in readiness for the forthcoming farming season.
He urged farmers in the area to approach farmers committees in order for them to access the inputs.
In the education sector, Mr. Malwa said government will soon start the construction of 16 classroom blocks at various schools in the district in order to widen children’s access to education.
Earlier, Lusaka province permanent secretary, Stephen Bwalya said the provincial administration was happy with the election of senior chiefs Nkomeshya Mukambo II, Mburuma and chieftainess Shikabeta as representatives of the province in the House of Chiefs.
ZANIS
And you expect Chitimukulu to be impartial!!!! meanwhile numero
This is bribery at broad daylight – why not electrify the villages instead?
Stop wasting gvt money by giving chiefs free vehicles.. They must buy for themselve. Instead of free vehicle consider free access to medication which is very important to everyone..
By the way did Finance Minister make a provision for maintenance of Chiefs vehicles in his 2010 Budget. Its a good idea but how many of them have the capacity to maintain such vehicles. The best would have been to look at the nature of their accommodation (Palaces) some of them are not fit for human habitation. With the current few shortages how are they going to be buying fuel and spares etc. Let us not just appease our loyal highnesses but have priority the way we allocate resources. A check around the country 30% of the vehicles are already grounded for lack of spares or accidents or sheer lack of proper maintenance. The best would have allocation to wards/bought ambulances to cater for every citizen. Any way only God knows thinking of our leaders. We are stuck in one position 4 45yrs.
By Election in Solwezi and Chief Kapijimpanga will get his Prado pronto. Patience my A R S E
So they are planing to buy them in 2011 so as to win votes
# 6 has a valid point. RB and his Gvt is at it again to try to win the chief’s support. Chitimukulu should be the first to receive one for crying out the loudest. This is very sad but these are tactics of UNIP.
Giving chiefs vehicles?? What for ? They have ba Kapaso who carry them over their shoulders.
What a crock of shit ! as kids go uneducated, sick people go without medicine, all the chief is worried about is a vehicle. this is what is wrong with zambia, commercialism and material goods has become the addiction that will cripple this country. who will put pertol in these cars and maintain them ? if this was in the usa they would call it “shake down” “bribery” “extortion”.
i remember in 1998 meeting a white man heading to the village to give the headman a new tv in lieu of some favor, so easy to buy the soul ?