President Michael Sata today held a closed door meeting with 17 chiefs from North-western, Eastern and Lusaka Provinces at State House.
During the meeting, President Sata told the traditional rulers that his government was determined to ensure that financial resources were allocated to all areas of needy countrywide.
The chiefs included senior chiefs Ndungu, Sikefelo, Mujimanzovu, Kasempa, Kalilele and chiefs Chizela, Ntambu and Mumena, who are all from North Western province.
Others are chieftainess Nyakulenga and Ikelengi and chief Mulonga and Munsaka who are also from North-western Province.
The rest were senior chief Mburuma and Mphuka from Lusaka Province while those from Eastern province were Mbangombe and Khatumba.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chella disclosed in a statement to ZANIS that the chiefs have since pledged to support President Sata’s administration in pursuit of the country’s development agenda.
Mr. Chellah said the traditional leaders requested the President to address various challenges facing their chiefdoms especially in sectors of educational infrastructure, health and the road network.
He said the chiefs further asked President Sata to initiate and finance capital projects in their provinces and expedite the electrification and provision of mobile telephone network in their areas.
He disclosed that the traditional leaders also expressed gratitude to President Sata for establishing a standalone ministry for them as well as appointing opposition MMD Members of Parliament to positions of deputy minister in his government.
Mr. Chellah said the chiefs thanked the President for the opportunity he accorded them to discuss several matters pertaining to the welfare of the country.
And Mr. Chellah said during the meeting, President Sata emphasized the need for constant engagements between the government and the traditional leadership in the country.
“You (traditional leaders) are a vital component in the governance of the country and there is a lot we can do together if we develop a culture of constant interaction. This is your place so feel free to submit your proposals and suggestions as and when need arises,” President Sata said.
The Head of State said as a person who fully understood and appreciated tradition and culture, he was convinced that chiefs will only be respected by the general populace if politicians look after them accordingly.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Susan Kawandami, Deputy Minister of Tourism David Phiri, Deputy Minister of Education Patrick Ngoma and Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Richard Taima.
Others were Minister for North-western Province Stephen Masumba his Permanent Secretary Augustine Seyuba and Kabompo Member of Parliament Danny Ching’imbu.
ZANIS
MR. CHELLAH AND MR. PRESIDENT. WHY PRESS STATEMENTS EVERYTIME? PEOPLE WANTS A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE THEY NEED TO ASK MR. PRESIDENT OVER THE SAID PF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS.
Good.Chiefs are supposed to work with the government of the day
wow politics zoona, so manje Masumba is a boss for Augustine Seyuba. Seyuba a man with rich CV.
Bloggers, what does the ‘whiskers’ that chiefs carry symbolise? For me, all chiefs are wizards and their hand-held’ whiskers’ symbolise witchcraft.
Its a Stuff. Its a physical symbol of the power that rests with chiefs. All kingdoms have a specific symbol that is passed on when they rise to power. Look at it like a Judge’s hummer.
You cant be blamed-You were made to see everything African as being from the occult or from the devil and were thus forced to distance every thing African from your life. This was one way of brainwashing you by the European invaders. The whisk can be seen as evil by those who have been brainwashed to think so. But just do your research; even the crucifix is viewed as evil by some of the Europeans who told you that it is your lucky charm or power symbol. Iam not advocating for a return to pre-colonialism life but I say Africans should learn to admire and take forward what is theirs.
Chela changed to Chellah
Mumembe changed to Mmembe.
Those are the first if not only 2 Zambian I will never wish to see with my naked eyes.
Chiefs for what? Who is the Lusaska chief?
Chiefs are just another tool hindering the Country from development, they issue land carelessly without even planing. they support any piece of crap at the helm of power so long there given a land cruiser some despite not having roads. why is sata only interested in addressing his fellow Grade 7 chiefs what about the General Public especially the educated? is he going to hide in state house till 2016? what a coward of an individual.
You had good points,but the conclusion was bad,you identified a very big problem of Chiefs having so much power on land,they have no advisers and planners to help with the way they allocate land. That problem has been there and no one seems to be interested in addressing it.
We should have gotten rid of the Chiefs like Tanzania did.
Bonse aba nabalyamo
isn’t that ka horny bastard always high on 7 hours mutototo Masumba in the front, i hope Sata isn’t taking this boys concoction otherwise he will die stiff on top of that Dr Kaseba and give her night mares to last her 2 life times.
Sata likes Masumba for something. Remember Mwanawasa liked that young man Mubika Mubika. Do you know why? Mubika`s father was the chief sangoma for Levy. Sata likes Stella Libongani who grew up in Ingutu`s house. There are so many of these equations you need to understand and where possible get to the roots ………
MWACEPA SANA BA OPPOSITION. YOU THINK YOU CAN PLAY POLITIX NA KING COBRA? BA HH NABA MUMBA SURE NAMATEBELA TAMULALEKA UKUFWALA. LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN USE YOUR EDUCATION TO GET INTO STATE HOUSE. SATA WILL FIRST FINISH MMD IN NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE AND THEN MOVE ON TO OTHERS. IT WILL THEN BE EASY TO IMPLEMENT DEVELOPMENT PLANS WITHOUT MUCH HINDRANCE BY THE TWO FUULS. WHOLE THIS IS THE FAULT OF OPPOSITION. THEY SAID THEY WILL BE OPPOSING EVERYTHING. SO, THE PLAN IS TO WEAKEN THEM FIRST (SELOKO/FUMAKO), PASS DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN PARLY WITH MAJORITY PF MPs AND THEN (TUBOMBEKO) IMPLEMENT THOSE DEVELOPMENT PLANS. HENCE, THE SELAKO/FUMAKO TUBOMBEKO. MWACEPA SANA FIRST KABIYENI BAMIPIPE ABAFYASHI BENU BAICE.
malambish yama words
Am only counting 23 chiefs but we have 73 tribes…what am I missing here……someone please educate me
Why only chiefs from where looming by elections are on cards.JUST thinking.Zambians wake up!
Sata is a wisdom man, plz leave him alone ifyakubwatabwata tafyawama.
MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN WE ARE BIGGER IN NUMBER THAN CHIEFS.IT IS SURPRISING THAT EVEN CHIEF MUMMENA CAN START BEHAVING LIKE THIS.YOU HAVE FAILED TO INSTRUCT MINES IN SOLWEZI TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLWEZI.
FOR CHINGIMBU WHY ARE YOU TAKING LONG TO ANNOUNCE YOUR RESIGNATION.MANYINGA IS WAITING FOR YOU.WE ARE GEARED TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE.
MY PROMISE TO ALL THINKING ZAMBIANS,OTHERS MAY WIN BUT FOR CHINGUMBU DAN WE SHALL TEACH HIM A LESSON.
FOR MMD NEVER ADOPT ANYONE IN THE PROVINCE AS YOUR PART IS A DISGRACE.
KINDLY WITH DUE RESPECT LEAVE UPND ALONE IN THE PROVINCE WE DONT WANT MUFUMBWE TO REPEAT ITSELF.
FOR UPND KINDLY WE ARE WAINTING FOR YOU.CONSULT WIDELY,OTHERS CAN DO IT,NOT MANYINGA PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS US WHO HELPED CHINGIMBU.WE SHALL SHOW YOU.
Unfortunately you all emanated from chiefdoms. They may now be irrelevant in your thinking but they just cant be dismissed with a snap of your fingers. While you have them you have to find a way of utilising them in your social progression. Otherwise they will be a thorn in your…. for ages to come.
#11 PETER – WALASA BOYI!
It is good for the chiefs to work with the govt in developing their aeas, but those from the so called barotseland do the opposite that is why the area is not as developed as other areas. Barotse chiefs lear from other chiefs who fight for development and freely give land to developers. This should be done in sesheke, senanga, mwandi, mulobezi, lukulu and other areas. Viva one zambia one nation.