Africa-Press – Zambia. The government has said that its move to dissolve of the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs is not meant to demean the institution of chieftaincy in the country.
Luapula Province Minister Derrick Chilundika explains that the move is meant to empower districts through the decentralisation program which he says will allow for more resources to be allocated to councils in districts where chiefs are also part of.
“Your Royal Highness, the new dawn government has committed itself to actualize the decentralisation program and through the decentralisation program more resources will be channeled to councils in districts, this will benefit even chiefs who belong to these councils,” Mr Chilundika said.
The Minister said this when he called on Senior Puta of Bwile the People of Chienge District today. This follows assertions by sections of society alleging that the dissolution of the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs is aimed at belittling the welfare of Chiefdoms in the country.
And Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile speaking people of Chienge District has described the now dissolved Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs as a mess.
The Senior Chief says he supports the decision to dissolve the Ministry and the taking of the department of chiefs to the Ministry of Local Government where chiefs belong. The chief says under the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Afairs, chiefs did not benefit and that government was right in dissolving the Ministry.
“Minister, the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Afairs was a mess, chiefs did not benefit anything, the people that benefited are those who are not supposed to benefit, we were better off when we were at local Government in the MMD government,” he said.
President Hichilema announced recently that his administration dissolved the ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to become a department under the Ministry of Local government and rural development whose minister is Garry Nkombo.
Meanwhile, five Chiefs from Muchinga Province have been elected as members of the House of Chiefs. The five traditional leaders elected at a gathering at Fresh Air Conference Room in Mpika are attended by 22 chiefs among whom were elected as executive members of Muchinga Province Council of Chiefs.
Those elected include Chief Kabinga of Kanchibiya , Chief Chikwanda of Mpika , Chief Lundu of Chama , Chief Mwenewisi of Mafinga and Chief Chikwa also of Chama, respectively. And Chief Lundu of Chama has been re-elected as Secretary General of the Muchinga Province Chiefs’ Council.
The full list of elected chiefs to sit on the Muchinga Province Chiefs Council is Chief Katyetye of Isoka as Chairperson, Chief Kambombo of Chama as vice chairperson, and Chief Lundu of Chama as Secretary. Others are Senior Chief Kopa as treasurer while Chief Muyombe and Chief Mpepo were elected as Committee members.
And the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia ( NAQEZ) Muchinga Province chapter has congratulated the traditional leaders who have elected as members of both the Muchinga Province Chiefs Council and the House of Chiefs.
NAQEZ Provincial Coordinator Charles Goma encouraged elected chiefs in the Province to voice out for education and educate parents on the importance of education in their respective chiefdoms.
Stating that Chief Lundu has been an affiliated member of NAQEZ for two years now, Mr Goma said the traditional ruler among chiefs in the Province who strongly stood in promoting quality education by advocating for quality education in the nation.
Mr Goma said, the society of 21st century is evolving at a speed of light and education need to be prioritised so that the country produce responsible generation.
“We are appealing to the traditional leaders in the province to continue advocating for the promotion of quality education in the country,” said Mr. Goma.
