President Hakainde Hichilema says the government recognises the efforts and roles that traditional leaders play in fostering development in the country.
President Hichilema notes that this is evident through the various projects being implemented in different parts of the country such as construction of chief’s palaces in order to improve the living standards of traditional leaders who are key partners of development.
ZANIS reports that the Head of State said this today in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote, during this year’s Chinamanongo Traditional Ceremony of the Bisa people of Kanchibiya District in Muchinga Province.
President Hichilema said the ceremony was important because it sent messages of cultural strengthening, which the government was trying to promote across the country.
He observed that the Chinamanongo traditional ceremony promotes peace and bringing people together as it is evidenced through eating in one pot.
“This is the only ceremony that has shown me that in navigating its history that the Bisa people are a peaceful people who have no record of having fought other groups in their migration,” he said.
President Hichilema said the history of the Bisa people spoke volumes regarding peace and the need for such people in the nation.
He said the government recognised the role that traditional ceremonies played in promoting unity and cultural identity.
President Hichilema encouraged the Bisa people to continue being a beacon of peace and continue to show such examples to the nation.
And the President said the government will continue to ensure traditional leaders live in a conducive environment that has since been seen through the construction of Chief’s palaces throughout the nation.
“Kanchibiya District is also a beneficiary of palaces as the construction of senior Chief Kopa’s palace is under construction,” he added.
He further directed Kanchibiya Council Chairperson Kanungwe Kanyanyamina and the Council Secretary Joseph Zulu to ensure the construction of Senior Chief Kopa’s Palace is completed.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Kopa who spoke through his representative thanked the government for the many developmental projects that have since taken place in his chiefdom.
He said the increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has changed the face of the district.
The traditional leader has since called for the construction of a filling station in the district in order to reduce distances and expenses that residents incur to access the commodity from Mpika District.
He said that the lack of a filling station forces residents to travel long distances to find petrol and diesel.
The traditional leader further said there is need to support rural districts to ensure fair fuel distribution, affordable transport, and improved rural infrastructure.
And Kanchibiya Council Chairperson, Kanungwe Kanyanyamina thanked the government for supporting the Chinamanongo ceremony.
Ms Kanyayamina further urged the Zambian people to continue living in peace and unity.
This year’s Chinamanongo Traditional Ceremony was held under the theme “Homestead food security through sustainable farming and environmental protection”.
