CHIEFS’ SUBSIDIES WON’T BE USED AS WEAPON TO BLACKMAIL ROYALTY – STATE HOUSE

Special assistant to the President for political affairs Levy Ngoma says the UPND government does not want chiefs’ subsidies to be used as a weapon to punish or blackmail royalty, as was the case in the recent past.

Mr Ngoma was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on chief Ndake of the Nsenga people of Nyimba district.

He says President Hakainde Hichilema is determined to work with all chiefs in the country.

Mr Ngoma notes that about 70 per cent of Zambia’s landmass is presided over by chiefs and that as such, traditional leaders are key partners in matters of national development.

“If the President leaves their royal highnesses behind, he will be a loner and he will not achieve,” Mr Ngoma says.

“President Hakainde Hichilema wants to work closely with you for the benefit of your subjects. The President believes that two are better than one and so, he wants to work with other royal highnesses in the country. He doesn’t want any chief in Zambia to be segregated and subsidies will not be used as a weapon to punish or blackmail royalty the way it was in the past.”

He adds that he is a bearer of a message from President Hichilema that government will build chiefs’palaces across the country.

Chief Ndake thanked the President for sending Mr Ngoma to his chiefdom.

“This is an honour that the President has accorded me. He is no stranger in this palace. As a chiefdom we wish him well. As Ndake Royal Establishment, we will do our best to work with this government of President Hichilema. We are prepared to work with him so that development can be delivered to my subjects,” chief Ndake says.

“My core objective is to uplift the welfare of my subjects. Without working with the government of the day, no single chief can deliver development.”

Chief Ndake is happy that the usage of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been entrusted to the local people, through the decentralisation policy.

“It’s not possible for the UPND government to finish developing Zambia in five years. Development is not an event; it’s a process. That’s why even countries that have been independent for centuries are still developing. I’m very expectant that with the way we are moving, a lot can be achieved by this government. I want to see that corruption loopholes in the councils, especially in the procurement sector, is curtailed.”

During his tour of Eastern Province, Mr Ngoma met chiefs who included paramount chief Mpezeni, Nzamane, Madzimawe, Kapatamoyo, Mishoro, Maguya, Mnukwa, Mshawa and Sairi (all Ngoni chiefs).

He also had meetings with chiefs Kawaza, Mbang’ombe, and Kathumba (Chewa chiefs) of Sinda and Katete districts.

Further, Mr Ngoma had meetings with Nsenga chiefs in Sandwe (Lusangazi district), Ndake and Luembe (Nyimba district).

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