Government has reiterated its appeal for chiefs to become enterprising and form companies to enable them bid for different contracts from government and other institutions.
Speaking today during the installation of chief Mununga, Luapula province minister Boniface Kawimbe said government would love to see chiefs become part of wealth creation in their chiefdoms.
Dr Kawimbe said there is no law or policy in the country that restrains chiefs from forming construction companies or any business venture like cooperatives.
“Chiefs can be able to form a company and bid for contracts like for infrastructure development or get the contract to clear the leave-way along ZESCO power-lines,” he said.
He noted that government has the money but it will not be enough to give to chiefs so that they can become wealth, hence encouraging them to become more enterprising.
He also reiterated the need for local people to get involved to building decent palaces for their chiefs.
He said in fact the development of chiefs’ palaces should be done out of constituency development fund.
Dr Kawimbe handed over the chieftainship rod, the chiefs black and maroon robe, Zambian flag and a date stamp as part of the government recognition.
Speaking through his spokesperson Bilton Sokoni, chief Mununga thanked government for recognising him as the duly elected chief of the Shila people in Mununga area.
The chief said although there was delay to recognise him for reasons that cannot be mentioned in public he was delighted that government gave him the recognition.
He also appealed to his subjects to maintain peace and security if the chiefdom is to develop.
Chief Mununga also described Census as an important exercise for national development and made an earnest appeal to his subjects to cooperate with enumerators by giving them accurate information once the exercise starts.
ZANIS
Not so fast mr minister.What you’re pushing here is not good governance.It can be seen as influence peddling or new avenues for corruption as chiefs will use positions of power to win contracts.You should have urged “zambian” people form companies not chiefs.Also cdf money should be used for the good of many and not in building palaces for chiefs who already live better.Use cdf where it’ll be most productive not for “show” projects.Mr minister you sound like the personification of bad governance
#1, Enka Rasha:
You have hit the nail on the head!
Kawimbe’s idea reeks of corruption.
But why shouldnt chiefs go into business. Do you want them to be dependant on Goverment grants??
Dont traditional leaders or monarchy’s in other countries have business interests. We are not a socialist state bit private sector driven economy, chiefs take it up
Better than involvment in partisan politics especially these same chiefs the Minister is addressing.