By MULENGA MUSONDA
ALL chiefs are mandated to support the government of the day as developmental programmes pass through them and this should not be misinterpreted as being partisan, Chief Chikanta has said.
Chief Chikanta of the Tonga people in Kalomo said the public should distinguish between a chief being partisan from supporting the government or the president of the day.
“As chiefs, officially we are supposed to work with the government of the day, that is officially, we are supposed to work with the government of the day…….after you people of Zambia elect a party and a president and that president forms government, all chiefs are supposed to work with that government,” he said.
“Working with the government of the day sometimes is misinterpreted to be partisan, because the president of the state is also a president of a political party, so if one chief says no I am ready to work with government, with the president, some people will say now he has become partisan.” Chief Chikanta said
The chief ,who is also the chairperson for the Council of Chiefs in Southern Province explained that people should not see traditional leaders who are working with the Patriotic Front to be partisan as developmental programmes from governments go through chiefs.
“In this particular case PF is in government, so if one chief says I will work with President Lungu, then sometimes it is misinterpreted that this chief has become partisan. There is a very thin line or separation between party as PF and government, otherwise all chiefs are supposed to officially work with the government of the day,” he said.
Chief Chikanta, who was speaking during the Byta FM Radio Station employee of the month award that was scooped by Radio presenter Mutuntu Sangombe, also took time to appeal to all political players to desist from violence and use of hate speech ahead of the August 12 general elections.
