GOVERNMENT RELEASES K56 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LUAPULA CHIEFS’ PALACES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL GOVERNANCE
AUGUST 19, 2026
…AS 807 KILOMETRES OF FEEDER ROADS SET FOR REHABILITATION
LUSAKA – The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, has released K56 million for the construction of chiefs’ palaces in Luapula Province as part of its strategy to support traditional leadership and enhance local governance.
Provincial Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Prudence Chinama Kangwa, disclosed this during the Provincial Council of Chiefs Consultative Meeting in Mansa today, noting that the projects reflect the New Dawn administration’s recognition of chiefs’ critical role in development.
“In Luapula, we have 17 palaces underway. Fourteen new ones are between 45 and 50 percent complete, while three legacy projects are now over 75 percent complete,” she said.
Each palace will include a chief’s office and two retainers’ houses.
On Constituency Development Fund (CDF) disbursement, Mrs. Kangwa reported that constituencies in Luapula received a combined K432 million in 2025, with more than K67 million already spent on community projects.
She further announced that 807 kilometres of feeder roads are scheduled for rehabilitation this year to boost connectivity across the province.
The Permanent Secretary also appealed to traditional leaders to help resolve succession disputes that have stalled development in some areas.
Mrs. Kangwa called on the royal highnesses to collectively strive to resolve the two longstanding disputes in the province in order to preserve peace, respect custom, and promote stability.
She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasising that chiefs remain a vital partner in uplifting communities.
“Your leadership continues to provide the critical link between traditional structures and modern governance,” she said.
(C) THE FALCON
This exercise, like the construction of houses for former presidents, is another meaningless venture. Chiefs should live within the standards of their subjects.
Who is going to maintain these palaces? What happens when the chief dies? In some traditions, the incoming chief cannot live in the same palace his predecessor occupied.
We seem to major in such questionable projects. We should revisit the issue of retirement benefits for former presidents. Does it make sense to build a house for the family of the late Mr. Lungu or Mr. Hichilema? Do we really need to build a house for the former Speaker of the National Assembly?
We take care of the president during his tenure of office. He doesnot spend a single ngwee on sustainance and yet we have to build him a house when he retires. What logic is this?