Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Professor Nkhandu Luo has reiterated government’s resolve to construct palaces in all the 10 provinces .
ZANIS reports that Prof Luo said the construction of Chiefs palaces was a government programme that is already in place adding that this was in an effort to improve the livelihoods of traditional leaders across the country.
She said this at a ground breaking ceremony of Senior Chief Kambombo’s palace in Chama district over the weekend.
The Minister stated that the best way to honour the legacy of the late President Michael Sata is to continue on his programme of completing the construction of three palaces in each province by the year 2016.
Meanwhile, Prof Luo said parents should ensure girl children are in school so that they also acquire education to enable them lead a meaningful life.
And responding to concerns from Senior Chief Kambombo earlier when she paid courtesy call on the chief, Prof. Luo stated that basic needs in communities such as water and sanitation were cardinal and that government attached great importance and that it would ensure every village has access.
Prof Luo also assured the Chief that the Chama/Kambombo road will be brought to the attention of Rural Road Unit (RRU) to work on because at national level the focus is on linking Matumbo/Chama road whose works were already in progress alongside a bridge to be constructed at Luangwa in Muchinga province.
And Prof Luo stated that her Ministry will ensure that chiefdoms follow right procedures before chiefs are gazetted.
She was referring to Chief Lundu’s chiefdom which is currently facing challenges as two brothers were fighting over the throne while one of them had taken the issue to court.
“Although the issues are to be decided traditionally there is need to involve relevant government institutions so that they observe the selection process and send reports to the Ministry before a chief is gazzetted,” she added.
Prof Luo however said she could not comment further because the matter was before the courts but emphasized that procedure has to be followed when selecting a chief.
The traditional leader who spoke through a representative Baidon Chipundu, earlier, raised several concerns with regard to lack of water and the bad state of the Chama/Kambombo road .
The chief also complained of the delay in installing Chief Lundu despite him recommending Boniface Chisupa.
And when she called on Paramount chief Mpezeni at his Ependukeni Palace In Chipata district in Eastern Province, Prof. Luo stressed that government will fulfill the promise it made to the nation of reconstructing all palaces for chiefs.
She stated that each reconstructed palace will have a museum as a new feature to display the culture and way of life of that chiefdome.
“Another new feature to the palaces will be the meeting rooms which chiefs will use for meetings with their indunas and to host visitors”, she said.
She further added that Chief Mpezeni and Chief Gawa Undi will be among the first beneficiaries from the program.
And Senior paramount chief Mpezeni expressed joy with Governments efforts and concern for the welfare of the chiefs.
His Royal Highness called for reconciliation among political party leaders as the country takes to the polls on 20th January 2015.
He also called on the media to preach and write about peace as the country faces another hurdle in governance.
And Paramount Chief Mpezeni has invited PF President Edgar Lungu to be the guest of honor at his wedding ceremony on January 1, 2015 .
I thought is against electoral rules to unveil government projects during the campaign period? Doesn’t this amount to bribing the electorate? E C Z shud. Clarify.
BUSY WORKING ON PROJECTS,,,,,GOOD JOB PF,,,,,THANK YOU PF
GBM is looking at his personal interests first as an individual neglecting the interests of many Zambians who desperately need to witness completion of various developmental projects which were started by the late president. SO PLEASE HH,,,,TAKE GBM WITH YOU.
2015 VOTE PF(EDGAR)
I THANK YOU
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili is a wild animal TESTICLE. What has he achieved so far in ZED or overseas? He’s just a LOCAL Political Ignorant BULLY. He’s a complete SCUMBAG.
GBM, you are late, no position for you in my party.
We regret to inform you that all ministerial positions in my party are fully occupied.
Thank you for supporting the winning team at last hour.
Yours Faithfully,
UPND
what is your stand on kanyanta sosala as chief chiti mukulu iwe in your personal capacity befre you choke us with that puke.
The ugly professor has spoken. No wonder her husband ran away from her.
Show us your wife or your mother , she left him, he did dump her.
Cough! Cough!. We shall build palaces and your subjects will draw water from the streams and rivers. I shall tell you what to do about girl childs so that I can absolve my responsibility as a minister with no plan. Also I am not doing what No 1 is asking. Cough…choke! !!
At this “ground breaking” ceremony. Could you imagine the cost of such “museums”. Just build schools and medical centre the rest will sort itself. Ok, ok…maybe a community hall…with toilets.
The PF clenched fist symbol represents Violence and nothing but violence. There is nothing we have seen of the PF in 3 years that relates this clenched fist symbol to national development, nothing at all but we have seen only violence. Zambians better run away for cover, for safety once you see or meet people raising a clenched fist, they are vilolent.
This is a load of BS. If anything these chiefs should be fazed out. They have outlived their usefulness. This is a total waste of resources. And on the government’s side this is simply an attempt to buy these useless chiefs’ loyalty.
The crime and the shame of it all.
Please continue your good work mama Professor, but remember that each chief is just one vote. The Chief’s subjects normally do not vote as the chief desires. And subjects don’t gain much from some of these Chiefs anyway, if anything subjects know that their Chiefs are easily bribed with simple goodies like whisky and sugar, even bottled mineral water, I have been corrected.
PF has been walking the talk. Developments strewn across the country have done enough campaign. Irrespective of endorsements by whomsoever, Lungu will stroll into statehouse come 2015. Viva Pabwato!!!
its going to be a neat trick building those palaces when you are in oposition luo.
What is the value of having such a ministry?Chiefs and Traditional Ministry!
Just make it a department under the Ministry of Home affairs or Presidential affairs Ministry.
What about Mother and child Ministry!Just turn it into Department of Maternal and child Welfare division under the Ministry of Health !
This is going to save millions of kwacha to be used on other developmental projects.
If she is serious let her start building Chitimukulu’s place.
Why starting ku Eastern? Let her do the same kwa Chitimukul.
The ugly bitch touched on education of a girl child. Does she understand what is involved in our current education system in rural areas? Does she know that high costs of secondary education has disadvantaged girl children? Lack of high schools in some rural areas has greatly affected a girl child’s education. They left important issues hanging as a campaign material. Twakana chimayo iwe.