North West chiefs resolve to support Govt

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:08:20 +0000

JACKSON MAPAPAYI

TRADITIONAL leaders in North Western Province have resolved to work and support the Government of the day in delivering development to the region because there is no any other president other than President Edgar Lungu.

The resolution was made during a two-day provincial chiefs indaba held under the theme ‘’Working towards a united and developed North Western Province’’.

The indaba was attended by all the chiefs in the province.

Speaking on behalf of all traditional leaders, Provincial Council of Chief’s secretary, Chieftainess Nyakulenga of Zambezi, said the traditional leaders also resolved to support Government projects and embrace all development programmes in the province.

She however said Government should stop perceiving traditional leaders as people who hated the Patriotic Front (PF) government.

‘’Chieftainancy is government and government is chieftainancy,’’ she said.

She also said Government should deliberately allocate a percentage of revenue collected from the mines to remain in the province for developmental projects.

‘’We also resolved that Government should construct a university and hydro power stations in Kabompo and Chavuma districts because these projects will spur development in these areas,’’ she said.

She said the chiefs also resolved that Government should revise the Mining and Minerals Act in order to include consent from local chiefs before an exploration or mining licence was issued.

And Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister Lawrence Sichalwe urged traditional leaders to continue being unifying factors in the country because without unity there could not be peace and development in the country.

Meanwhile, provincial minister Richard Kapita said no one will develop the province and do it on their own without support from all stakeholders such as Government, traditional leaders and many others.