Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lungu meets North Western Province chiefs

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Chief Mumena  With  Chief Mumena  at Statehouse after Meeting with the President Lungu .pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.
Chief Mumena With Chief Mumena at Statehouse after Meeting with the President Lungu .pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.

President Edgar Lungu today met 32 chiefs from North Western Province at State House in Lusaka and discussed various issues pertaining to the development of the region.

Speaking during the meeting, President Lungu said chiefs play an integral role in the governance system of the country.

Mr. Lungu said without the involvement of chiefs in the development process of the country, it would be difficult for government to reach out to the people.

He explained that it was the Patriotic Front’s (PF) belief that developmental ideas should come from established structures such as chiefdoms.

He noted that it was from meetings with traditional leaders that real issues affecting the people on the ground are brought out.

“Your priority needs are not going to be determined by us in Lusaka. In Lusaka, we receive reports, but down there they are bound to be distilled or diluted. But when we meet we will probably know that this chiefdom needs this development as a priority,” President Lungu said.

Mr. Lungu has meanwhile said his meeting with North Western Province chiefs should not be politicised and urged the traditional leaders to freely discuss issues that will develop the country.

And speaking on behalf of other traditional leaders, Chief Ntambu, who is also the vice chairperson for the House of Chiefs, outlined a number of issues that were affecting North Western Province.

Chief Ntambu appealed to government to build a fully-fledged university and to construct a referral hospital in the region to cater for the growing population in the province.

He further revealed that the existing Solwezi General Hospital needs to be rehabilitated for it to deliver better services to the people.

He said the health institution was currently in a dilapidated state.

And the traditional leader has said the connection of North Western Province to the national grid should be expedited.

Chief Ntambu has additionally said there was an outcry from the people in the region for a bridge that will link Zambezi East and Zambezi West to ease their movements.

The chief also called for the improvement of the road network in North Western Province.
He further said there was need to tar Kasempa-Kaoma and Kasempa-Mumbwa roads to shorten the distance for those that travel to Lusaka for national duties.

“The feeder roads linking the chiefdoms need to be worked on so that agricultural products have easy access to the market,” Chief Ntambu said.

He has further implored government to build a high court in Solwezi because the population has increased in the area.

Chief Ntambu also disclosed that the chiefs have resolved that the provincial capital be relocated from Solwezi to Mufumbwe district for it will be easily accessed by all the other districts in the region.

He has since asked President Lungu to consider creating new districts in the province because only one new district was added when many others were being created across the county.

Chief Ntambu has meanwhile thanked President Lungu for rejecting the infamous clause 296 on land and on the bold decision made to do away with it.

Furthermore, Chief Ntambu appealed to the President to speed up the appointment of District Commissioners in the province saying their absence was hindering the flow of information to the people.

But President Lungu said he was still marking consultations on who should be appointed to these positions.

In his response to the chiefs’ concerns, President Lungu said he had taken note of the issues and would ensure that some of them such as the improvement of the road network and the establishment of a university were addressed in due course.

Mr. Lungu said it was good that the chiefs had agreed to make Mufumbwe a provincial capital saying he would table the matter in Cabinet for further discussion.

President Lungu said government has no intention to create new chiefdoms and has therefore directed that anyone masquerading as a chief will be arrested.

Earlier, Chief Kanongesha said in his opening remarks that the traditional leaders were delighted that President Lungu had called for a meeting with them to discuss developmental issues in their area.

He said chiefs were very happy that President Lungu was unifying the country on a crusade of One Zambia One Nation.

Presidents Lungu greets Chief Retainers
Presidents Lungu greets Chief Retainers
President Edgar Lungu with Senior Chief Ishiindi   at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu with Senior Chief Ishiindi at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu pose for the group Picture with  Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu pose for the group Picture with Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu with Chief Mumuna and Chief Kanongesha  at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu with Chief Mumuna and Chief Kanongesha at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu pose for the group Picture with  Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu pose for the group Picture with Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES  BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
President Edgar Lungu Meets Chiefs From North Western Province at Statehouse on Tuesday 14-07-2015 PICTURES BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/ STATEHOUSE.
Chief Mumena  With Senior Chief Ishiindi right and Chief Ishima  Sankeni V1 at Statehouse after Meeting with the President Lungu .pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.
Chief Mumena With Senior Chief Ishiindi right and Chief Ishima Sankeni V1 at Statehouse after Meeting with the President Lungu .pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.

42 COMMENTS

  1. Too many unproductive meetings both home and abroad. Meetings about unproductive industrialization,etc. Action speaks louder than words.

    • We got presidents in Africa especially Zambia , poor economy , load shedding , corruption , lawless and high prices of fuel . Bandit lungu comes out and says let’s pray to god and will help . Since PF both sata and bandit lungu come to office any of then talked about economy . Rather put Zambia for sale or rent .

    • Kwacha is weak , high prices of fuel , load shedding , CBU closed , corruption , high un employment , know medicines in hospitals , high debit . Thought those are more important stuff for a president to solve . Lungu and his bandits putting Zambia 100 yrs behind . RB one of the most corrupt person still free and sons. England , unip , MMD all come and went put your bandits you are going to jail

    • Good. The President needs to shut the mouths of careless PF cadres who continue to provoke other tribes. He can do this by disciplining them. That way the opposition will be encouraged to deal with tribalism more effectively. The Head of State needs to take a lead against tribalism and corruption. He should try hard not to sound like a cadre but a Head of State. That way his cadres will desist from this poor behaviour. PF is now the party in government running the affairs of the country.

    • Chagwa is lying through his buck teeth about One Zambia One Nation because he is a well known tribal¡st who extols Wako ni wako. He preaches one thing, and does the opposite. The NWP chiefs have given a well thought out development road map. Expect none of these projects to happen ; in the meantime, PFools will be asking for suggestions for how to develop Zambia. These Eurobond thieves!

  2. What was the outcome of this meeting and how does it help the ordinary Zambian? Nothing at all.

    All these chiefs had to be provided transportation and accommodation , not forgetting an allowance.

    Another waste of a poor country’s meagre resources.

    Lungu – you need to get your priorities straight. We don’t have enough money in the government coffers for such unnecessary expenditures as a poor impoverished country

  3. So they were invited to state house to be told they are important in the development of the country? And they too requested a university and referral hospital! and the meeting was done. What a waste of time! While Presidents Kagame and Kenyatta are having frequent business fora with local and foreign business people who may have a significant impact on the economy.

    • This is typical of Zambian presidents. They want to learn how to oppress their people from Mugabe or how to go for third terms as Chiluba did from Peru’ Fujimori. Zambian presidents do not want to learn how to develop a country from their counterparts in Botswana or Rwanda. They just want to emulate failed states or talk to people who cannot help them. This is grounded in envy and shame.

    • Semi insanity, he was in NW province 2 weeks ago meeting the same chiefs. Why did he just discuss with them right there in NW? Mediocre leadership!

  4. Nice to see the so-called chiefs looking smart and dressed in suits etc. Not long ago these guys could have been busy cleaning Toilets in Council townships as “banyamazai”. At least here in the western world thy have a better term/word and call them; ‘Hygiene operatives’…

    • Stop your Sata and Bemba hatred for NWP. These are humble hard working people. They never stole your money, whether Eurobonds or the national budget, the way Bembas are doing right now.

    • The Western world has failed to clean you up. You are still as raw as your uncouth ancestors. It is true you can take someone from a ghetto but you cannot take the ghetto out of him. How I wish some deranged white guy can pump a few bullets into your head. The world will be much better with complete id1ots like you. Why are you and your like always insulting people from North-Western, Southern and Western provinces? One Zambia, One Nation; my foot!

  5. MPs and councilors can/should tell the president the issues in those areas. NOT parading chiefs and wasting money. That is why MPs are in Lusaka most times. Please do not corrupt our chiefs. POVERTY is bad.

  6. Trying to bribe the chiefs in readiness for 2016. It wont work. But at least u are meeting chiefs from the most neglected but richest northwestern province compared to that monkey u called sata.

  7. We should declare a week to extolling HH much like Women’s Week, say we call it “HH Week”. It will be launched by the Hon Minister of Justice on ZNBC TV.
    During that week we will all pledge not to criticise HH. Maybe that will please our restive brothers the big bulls and raise their egos. Hopefully after that they will start thinking straight not the current situation where they just praise anything that HH utters, no matter how illogical or ill informed.
    As it is now, if HH condemns fuel price hike he will be praised. If tomorrow he condemns himself for criticising fuel price hike,

    • Biatch, what has this got to do with HH? He is not the one failing to run the economy? Who is gifting you power cuts, high fuel prices, a free falling Kwacha and closed universities every day? Blame your thick skulls for voting for selfish thieves into State House.

    • Buck Teeth, don’t insult Sata he is not the one who came up with the word/ term ;Namazai’. That term was there from time of colonialism. Please its not Sata. But also you may do an investigation to find out the origin of that word. I know the truth hates. Its like calling the Tonga polygamous. Have you not seen how they are coming out. They want a secession because they have been told the truth, these ‘bulls’

  8. … his cadres will still praise him. If the following day he withdraws his statement, the cadres will still praise him. You get my drift?

  9. Lazy bum Lungu would rather tribe with govt resources by transporting, accommodation and schmoozing them…than attend to pressing national issues this is calibre of leadership today…no shame at all!

  10. A short while ago, Lungu was in NW province. Why didn’t he meet the chiefs there? He has to call them all the way to Lusaka and spend our meagre resources on such an unproductive venture. This govt is always in elections campaigns mode. No wonder we can’t have proper development. They have no time to plan out national development agenda.

  11. While you guys in opposition mostly UPND cadres complain and blame all what ECL do daily,Edgar Lungu is busy in state house working!!meetings like this one are very vital and I WONT BE SHOCKED SEEING PF WIN SOLWEZI WEST SEAT SOON MARK MY WORDS!!

  12. When ECL travels in neighboring countries opening opportunities for Zambians, ati kamwendo munjila. When he stays at State House talking and consulting with Zambians and their traditional leaders, ati he is lazy and holding unproductive consultations. HH opens his mouth and gives an uncorroborated statement, ati president in waiting – yaba, anyway, the Zambian voter is not fooled.

  13. Lungu is intelligent politician. He has declared NW and western provinces to be the battle ground for 2016. He knows that no matter how HH will work in the other provinces he can’t be beaten. So he has shifted goal posts. Meanwhile HH the ‘edicated’ man is now following Edgar to NW. Who in the world advises HH?

  14. The more this man Lungu is featured in the news the more he looks clueless and almost afraid he took the job. he is more concerned about minutia, instead of meeting with these chiefs, he should have convened a meeting to discuss the plight of CBU and other institutions. but oh no that is beyond his comprehension and has nothing to offer. I am sure e is counting days before e goes off on to another ceremony. not only is this a shame but utter madness.

    as for the chief retainers, they look undernourished, albeit just happy to shake the ands of the one that is taking away from them. Zambians wake up

    • People should not forget where they come from. Sata’s hatred for people of NWP is part of the Bemba culture which runs through PF. Forget this at your own peril.

  15. THE FACT STILL REMAINS “BEMBAS ARE THIEVES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER” AND I WOULD WANT THIS TO BE KNOWN BY EVERYONE IN ZAMBIA. BEMBAS HAVE LET THEIR CHILDREN ON THE STREETS OF COPPERBELT AND LUSAKA BECAUSE THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. ZAMBIA IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE BEMBAS STEALING WHEREVER THEY HAVE BEEN PUT TO BE IN-CHARGE. THE CURRENT CIVIL SERVICE IS BLOTTED BECAUSE OF THE STEALING HABBITS OF THE BEMBAS. THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY IS NEARLY GRINDING TO A HAULT BECAUSE OF THE STEALING HABBITS OF THE BEMBAS. GOVERNMENT IS BORROWING TERRIBLY NOW BECAUSE THE BEMBA MINISTER WANT TO STEAL MORE. WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE WHOLE THING AS ZAMBIANS—SUCCESSION IS THE THE ANSWER. DIVIDE ZAMBIA BASED ON TRIBAL LINES PERIOD

    • You have troubling issues with my Bemba mbuyas @ Rasco.
      Even while in America sure, you haven’t been civilized or at least adopted an inch of the Muzungu lifestyle!? That hatred you harbour my Americano-Zedian is scarly.
      Imagine you being a head of a Zambian government department… Please God forbid!!

    • Iwe Buck Teeth, who has told you that Bembas hate North Westerners and for what reason. Stop suffering from such inferiority complexes and just be normal be yourself. Lets preach love and unity forget history. Lets forge ahead as a Nation. All the divide and rule schemes instigated by the Colonialists are over, past, lets move foward

    • For your information not everyone who speaks Icibemba is Bemba. Don’t be so dull as to assume that everyone speaking Bemba is a Bemba. Bemba is smply widely spoken by more people that’s all.

      And all that ranting you are giving have you done a survey, have you verified it. Plz don’t show your shallowness on this blog

  16. Every day holding meetings without the benefit of the common man. Sata did like wise and you doing the same at the end of the no benefit.

    • @Rasco, you are the people preaching hate and division in this Country. Elyo ngabafulwa nabo bamituka at we want to secede. Tawakwata mano.

      Don’t be so obsessed with one tribe called Bemba. Lets learn to be accommodative, every Zambian tribe is valuable. We are all children of God. Plz don’t sin against the Lord God thru your hate and bitterness

  17. Just because this Jamason boy head HH is getting thunderous welcome from citizens and chiefs from NWP, he decides to call them. Too late and bye bye polio with your high cost of living. 2016 tekwesha. Start writing on State House walls that ‘Lungu was here’.

  18. Our chiefs inNWProvince are so smart and highly educated.Keep it up.They can not be bribed or cheated.Most of them are intercessors and know the truth.VIVA NWCHIEFS.WEARE PROUND OF YOU.Keep the unity.

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