Home Affair Minister Davis Mwila has urged traditional leaders to lead in discouraging violence as Zambia prepares for general elections this year.
Mr. Mwila said traditional leaders play a critical role in peace making and as such they are better placed as ambassadors against political violence.
He said President Edgar Lungu was calling on all Zambians to appreciate the importance of co-existence and maintaining peace and order before, during and after elections.
Mr. Mwila said this in Kabompo yesterday when he graced this year’s Kazanga traditional ceremony of the Nkoya speaking people, which signifies a celebration of testing the first harvest of the Nkoya prestigious crop, sorghum and paying homage to God among others.
He added that government was committed to developing all areas of the country.
He said government has earmarked Kabompo as one of the tourism development areas because of the Kabompo river which is the deepest river in Africa and the Kaunda house where Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was incarcerated during the struggle for independence.
Speaking earlier, Chief Mwene-Kangombe of the Nkoya speaking people in
Kabompo commended President Lungu and the Patriotic Front administration for fostering development in all parts of the country.
The traditional leader however appealed to government to rehabilitate Manyinga-Mwinilunga road and Mumbezhi-Lukulu road.
Meanwhile, Kazanga Cultural Association National chairperson, Yamfwa Mukanga said traditional ceremonies were unifying factors that should not be politicised.
Mr. Mukanga, who is also Works and Supply Minister, said politicising traditional ceremonies would be diluting traditional norms which are older than political programmes.
Seriously, which chief can stop PF being violent?
Government is in charge of the police, the correctional services, the army and is failing to control the situation…. What will chiefs with fly whisks do? Is this a veiled acknowledged by the dishonorable minister that he has failed????