Chief Chikwanda of the Bemba people in Mpika District of Muchinga Province, has commended the Government for its commitment to providing decent accommodation for traditional leaders across the country.
The traditional leader expressed satisfaction over the construction of his palace which is nearing completion, describing the development as a positive step towards improving the welfare of Chiefs in the country.
Chief Chikwanda said this when Mpika District Commissioner David Siame paid a courtesy call on him at his palace yesterday.
The chief disclosed that construction works on his palace has now reached 95 percent completion and is expected to be finalised soon.
“This is a clear indicator that government cares for traditional leaders,” Chief Chikwanda said.
He said government deserves appreciation from all well-meaning citizens for its continued support to traditional leaders.
Chief Chikwanda is also elated that the government has provided motorbikes to all palace retainers and constructed two staff houses and a conference hall.
The traditional leader further reaffirmed his support for the government of the day.
And Chief Chikwanda also praised the government for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation across the country, noting that with the increase in the number of constituencies in Mpika District, the total CDF allocation for the district will now double to 80 million Kwacha.
He said the increased funding would spur unprecedented development in the district and the nation at large.
Meanwhile, Mpika District Commissioner David Siame said the critical role played by traditional leaders in promoting love, unity, and stability cannot be overemphasized, adding that it is for this reason that government has embarked on a robust programme to construct chiefs’ palaces across the country.
Mr Siame disclosed that Mpika District has three chiefdoms, all of which will benefit from the ongoing construction of Chief’s palaces.
“All the three chiefdoms will have new chiefs’ palaces constructed,” Mr Siame stated.
The District Commissioner stressed that government remains committed to improving the welfare and living standards of traditional leaders across the country.
Chiefs are only happy to receive their palaces from the government. THis makes them vulnerable to ruling party control. Chiefs should strive to build trheir own palaces. Subjects who recognise the authority of their chiefs shou;ld be constructing these palaces-not the government. Evene their salaries should come from their subjects not from all of us.
My sentiments entirely as they serve no useful purpose at all
unfortunately these sort of posts attract comments like tribalists and haters
No wonder we still a backward nation ?? and with some not being able to see the woods for the trees
we like to continue on the same bumpy path
Nigerian chiefs don’t receive government money.
I am sorry to say that I am descendant of Chief Mukupa Katandula and Nsama and I think this whole relationship between a governing body and these groups should be abolished. People struggle so hard to acquire the knowledge to move our country ahead and then you have to bow to the ones that are just living in ignorance. When I see a President bowing to the Chiefs, I really have a problem reconciling the arrangement. If colonization was bad — Chiefdoms are irrelevant. Period. One day the people will have their eyes and ears opened.
One day? One day kwatalimpa iwe. Tifuna lelo