Accept criticism, Shakafuswa advises HH
By Edwin Mbulo in Kazungula
LEADERSHIP is not a joke, it is a serious obligation, says President Hakainde Hichilema.
Meanwhile, Jonas Shakafuswa in representing the Mukuni Royal Establishment has advised President Hichilema to accept criticism as well as to use positive criticism to develop Zambia.
Speaking at Simukale Shrine during the Bene Mukuni Traditional Ceremony on Saturday, President Hichilema urged Zambians to unite in the fight against corruption.
“Leadership, I can share with you is not a game. It is a serious obligation. It is a serious commitment, heart and soul otherwise you may not do it if you are not committed,” he said.
President Hichilema concurred with local government minister Gary Nkombo who urged royal families not to resort to courts of law to resolve chief succession wrangles.
This was after Shakafuswa, representing chief Mukuni, blamed courts of law of being quick to accept injunctions against chief successors while being slow to dispense justice over the same.
On corruption, President Hichilema said even the Bible teaches against stealing.
“I am so abhorred by that some members of our society are deliberately skewing the fight against corruption and calling it names which it is not. Even the Bible is clear that ‘thou shalt not steal’. The Bible is clear against the commandments, thou shall not steal. How can we as a cultured nation support theft of public resources? I am so surprised,” President Hichilema said.
He urged Zambians to hold hands together on the fight against corruption and divert resources where they must go and save the people of Zambia.
“The 18 million of them equitably,” President Hichilema said.
He urged traditional leaders to work with government to preserve Zambia’s cultural heritage.
On peace, President Hichilema said it was amazing that despite the PF’s divisive schemes, the country was on a path to restore unity so that it can focus on development.
He said Zambians should be proud of the new breath of fresh air.
President Hichilema urged youths not to turn to crime or thuggery as was seen under the PF regime.
“Protect the peace not by violence,” he said.
“We want to be very candid and very clear as leaders to restore the rule of law and to use our cultural heritage to unite our people. The different ethnic groups that God endowed us with is to link our people in a cross intersection for the good of the country,” President Hichilema said.
He noted that cultural heritage should be used to take Zambians away from issues that hamper development or injure people.
On the girl child, President Hichilema said the UPND is against early teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
On the CDF, President Hichilema said over 770 learners in Livingstone are in boarding school due to the increased Constituency Development Fund.
And Nkombo urged chiefdoms that have succession wrangles in courts to withdraw them and tackle them at family level.
He said clans can easily resolve “these wrangles instead of resorting to court processes”.
Earlier, Shakafuswa who is the director general of the Bene Mukuni Traditional Ceremony urged the UPND government to restore kingship titles to certain traditional leaders such as Gawa Undi, the Litunga, Chitimukulu, Mpezeni and others, which was taken away by colonial masters.
He added that Mukuni was happy that the UPND government has walked the talk not to get involved in traditional leadership wrangles.
Shakafuswa appealed to President Hichilema to ensure primary school children learn all subjects in local languages.
He also asked that the secondary school curriculum be changed to include skills training to which President Hichilema agreed with.
Shakafuswa praised the UPND for peace and unity saying now people can agree to differ without bloodshed.
He urged President Hichilema to be strong and warned present leaders against corruption.
“Mr President everything will be thrown at you. Accept criticism, find positive criticism and make use of it. Negative criticism throw it into the dustbin,” advised Shakafuswa.