RB Counsels Chiefs

8 June 2011

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has advised chiefs in the country to partner with the Government through leading and guiding their subjects towards economic and social development in Zambia.

President Banda said in a speech read for him by Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu at the Juba Ja Nsomo traditional ceremony of the Kaonde people in Senior Chief Kasempa’s chiefdom that it was the responsibility of all the chiefs to guide their subjects towards economic and social development.

He said his Government was counting on traditional rulers’ support in bringing economic and social development and that traditional ceremonies were an effective way of safe-guarding the country’s cultural heritage because his Government believed that culture was a powerful means of enhancing national unity in diversity.

“The fact that Zambia consists of a diverse range of ethnic cultures living together and sharing a common history is proof enough of the true value of culture,” he said.

He said the Government would remain committed to the preservation and promotion of culture and continue to recognise the dignity of traditional rulers as custodians of the cultural heritage.

Culture had the potential to contribute to the development and promotion of cultural industries for employment and wealth creation and also helped youths and visitors assimilate and understand the life of Zambians.

Mr Banda said to stimulate economic growth in Kasempa, the Government was working on the Mukunashi Road and putting up culverts in Katenda area.

On agriculture, he said 14,500 farmers in Kasempa benefited from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and produced a bumper harvest which was likely to be repeated this season.

He said a maternal and child health block had beencompleted together with Mako health post while people would attest to the effectiveness of mobile hospitals.

He said as people vote in this year’s elections, they should not make a mistake of voting for the opposition because that could reverse the gains achieved so far.

He said North-Western Province had huge potential and all it needed was good leadership and the best was to continue with the MMD Government.

While some politicians had lost elections on three attempts, other presidents, who included first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, the late president Levy Mwanawasa and himself won elections on their first attempts.

Senior Chief Kasempa said there had been a significant increase in maize production mainly because of the high number of people benefiting from the FISP.

He said through a representative that his chiefdom was thankful to President Banda and his Government for creating a conducive environment to promote private sector-led agriculture.

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