By Fanny Kalonda
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says he has directed his Cabinet to ensure any investment in the country be it mining, electricity and any natural resource benefits local people.
And President Hichilema says: “we must accept death as God’s decision. He gives, He takes.”
Speaking at the funeral service of senior chief Musele of Kalumbila district in North Western Province on Saturday, President Hichilema said the government understands the issues that people are facing in the province.
President Hichilema announced that he would travel to the province again to tackle the issues and bring harmony between the investors and the people.
“Yesterday [Friday], we had a Cabinet meeting, and we, the President, guided Cabinet that going forward any investment [in] mining, electricity, natural resources anywhere in the country will ensure that the local people are taken care of. We are aware of the issues around here. We are very much aware. You know I have come here many times. Many times years over. I have been here, we understand the issues but because you have put us in this position to serve you we will now be able tackle them squarely,” he said. “Our position is known around development issues. We talked about these issues, you know. Many of you understand what we went through some years back. We have talked publicly and now with your grace, God’s grace, through you putting us here, is the first step towards resolution of the problems that we have been planning for a long time. Next week, just next week, I will be here again. I will be coming here again and we will commence tackling the issues around here so that we can bring harmony between the investments around here and the people.”
And President Hichilema praised the late chief Musele for his resilience in fighting for the people in his chiefdom as well as the province.
President Hichilema also praised Musele for his assistance to past governments in resolving conflicts among traditional leaders across the country when he was a member in the House of Chiefs.
“I want to say thank you to chief Musele for your resilience in fighting for the people. We say to our royal highness departed so, you are gone, but the work you left behind will be carried on by all. So the chief was not just our chief, and a representative from chief Kasempa’s state but was also…But he was a chief for me and everyone else in this country. Just to emphasise, he was a chief for all of us. Now it means we have lost a lot and this loss is broader. It is deep,” he said. “His royal highness chief Musele when he was a member in the House of chiefs he assisted government then resolve a number of conflicts among traditional leaders across the country, not just here. Not just in Lundaland but also across the country. We thank him for that. So our duty those of us who have remained – I must emphasize here, life is a gift from God; God is a giver of life to all of us He decides when we are born and from what parents. He decides where you are born from. As a consequence of that, by that decision or those decisions of His He decides what language you speak, the language you speak in a family you are born in. You may learn other languages but if the original language is associated with your parent…So when people fight about that one is that tribe, that one is that language, that is not our part. That is God’s decision. We should stay away from that front. We must accept death as God’s decision. He gives, He takes. Our duty is to accept God’s decision.”
President Hichilema advised the royal establishment to ensure no dispute in the succession process by strictly following the family tree.
He said the government would support the process of selection but would not interfere.
President Hichilema said the successor would take the heavy responsibility of looking after the family and the issues of development that the chief was interested in in Kalumbila.
“The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development [Gary Nkombo] talked about many succession wrangles. This is a concern to this government. Therefore, we ask the Musele Royal family that they should not add to the chiefdoms that are squabbling about succession. Follow the family tree. It is solely your decision this government will not interfere with the selection process when that time comes. Now we are mourning the chief with respect, with love and with unity,” said President Hichilema. “Therefore, we just advise that take heart, take care as you run through this process. Do not allow people who are not part of the process to enter the process. Some people come to the process only to bring about… The successor must take the heavy responsibility of looking after the family, the children, the widow, the entire family and also the issues of development that the chief was interested in here in Kalumbila and his chiefdom and the province.”