CHIEFTAINESS Mwenda (left) of Chikankanta gives a presentation to other traditional leaders during a Safe Motherhood orientation workshop in Choma

MORE THAN 25 gazetted traditional leaders from various parts of Southern Province are today scheduled to meet President Edgar Lungu at State House.

Provincial Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba, who confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, said that a total of 28 gazatted traditional leaders would meet the Head of State.

Mr Simuchoba said that President Lungu had invited the traditional leaders and that a luncheon was expected to be hosted for them by the Head of State.

“I can confirm that 28 gazetted chiefs from Southern Province have been invited by His Excellency President Lungu on June 1, 2015 (today) at State House,” he said.

Mr Simuchoba said some of the chiefs left for Lusaka at the weekend in readiness to meet President Lungu.

In a separate interview, Chief Chkanta of the Tonga speaking people in Kalomo district, who is also the chairperson of the Southern Province Royal Foundation of Chiefs, described the invitation as marvelous.

He said the invitation by President Lungu showed that the Head of State was ready o dialogue and work traditional leaders in the country in his quest to develop the country.

“I am one of the chiefs who have been invited by President Lungu, this is a very good decision and we are all looking forward to meet him,” he said.

Chief Chikanta said the occasion by chiefs to meet with Mr Lungu would avail them an opportunity to dialogue on many issues.

Chief Nyawa (right) of Kalomo with other traditional leaders attending a two-day Safe Motherhood orientation workshop in Choma

CHIEFTAINESS Mwenda (right) of Chikankanta, Chief Nalubamba of Namwala and Chief Monze among other traditional leaders attending a two-day Safe Motherhood orientation workshop in Choma

11 COMMENTS

sponge bob June 1, 2015 At 6:52 am

Dont go and speak Tonga at state house it’s English only. We hope that this time you will try and vote for the sitting party.
Tell them also about their tribalistic nature.
Misango Yaba Chaimani June 1, 2015 At 7:24 am

Divide and rule, the old yet so ever useful method applied for generations to enhance authority and perpetuate oppression.
- Nostradamus June 1, 2015 At 12:19 pm
  
  main topic will be HH.
Puungwa June 1, 2015 At 8:52 am

I see nothing wrong,chiefs are part of governancethey even used to wine and dine with colonial DCs while nkumbula and kaunda were fighting a political war with the same.however lungu will still get zero votes in neganega.lol
- Misozi June 1, 2015 At 10:28 am
  
  @puungwa with or no votes from Southern it won’t make any impact. Southern is one tenth of the total provinces we have. So there is nothing to lose.
- Yebo Nkhosi June 1, 2015 At 12:14 pm
  
  We do not care whether Lungu gets zero votes in neganega. Neganega is not Zambia. We will still ensure that Lungu wins to show those regionalist that the whole is better than the particular.
  
  You are fighting a lost battle. standing on regionalism, what a shameful position to be on. It is very backwards. Wake up and become civilised. This is 2015. Why behave like you are living in stone age.
Martin June 1, 2015 At 10:39 am

Lungu is just a man with a good heart and he keeps no grudges. Otherwise why will he invite chiefs from Southern after their subjects exposed so much hatred for him. It is a good step in uniting the nation. even the minority views are taken on board. i am not Tonga but as a nation we can`t do without any other tribe.

Hats off to president Lungu. Lungu can do very well if only he could keep a safe distance from former care taker president R. Banda.
- Yebo Nkhosi June 1, 2015 At 5:23 pm
  
  That is how real Presidents behave. They embrace everyone. As President you are a leader for all Zambians,
  
  Zambia is bigger than one region.
  
  One Zambia One Nation.
  
  Let those who depend on Pilato be led by Pilato(HH).
Ndaje Kahks June 1, 2015 At 11:00 am

Why do we only see negativity in everything Edgar does? You know very well that the divisions need to be healed but you just yap yap
- Obatala Lungulitis June 1, 2015 At 11:57 am
  
  Because Pilato has told us what was in the suitcase….listen to the song…
Aquilla June 1, 2015 At 11:23 am

Invitation of traditional chiefs from Southern province to meet president Lungu is suspicious. Lungu has never respected people from that region on account of their political stand in the nation. Lungu is president of Zambia and should not have display partisan rule by neglecting people from other regions because of their political persuation.
I hope an honest open dialogue will be on the table not to threaten chiefs with a whip of development if they do not support him. Most chiefs in S/province support HH,just like all chiefs in Northern province supported late Sata and so are chiefs in Eastern province. That is their political right as chiefs.
In democratic disapensation that is expected and should be respected