Mon, 03 Apr 2017 10:35:54 +0000
CHIEF Chizela of the Kaonde speaking people in Mufumbwe district of North-Western Province has appealed to Government to urgently send immigration officers to screen foreigners masquerading as Zambians in the district.
Chief Chizela alleged that some foreigners from a neighbouring country have even obtained green national registration cards and participated in the elections.
The traditional leader said this when North-Western Province minister, Richard Kapita, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at the weekend.
Chief Chizela also appealed to Government to end the ‘‘provocative acts’’ of two people claiming to be chiefs within his chiefdom to avoid chaos in the area.
He said those two people masquerading as chiefs had been holding ceremonies within his chiefdom without his consent, thereby causing tension in the district.
And Chief Ingwe of Kasempa district has appealed to Government to split Kasempa district into two because it was too vast to manage as one constituency.
He said the impact of the Constituency Development Fund was not felt because resources were spread so thinly that some people in the district did not benefit.
In response, Mr Kapita said the issue of foreigners participating in Zambian elections in Mufumbwe district needed to be addressed as quickly as possible because it was compromising the country’s democracy and security.
He said he would engage the Immigration Department to ensure that the officers move in and carry out a screening exercise to address the situation.
On the issue of splitting Kasempa district, the minister said he would relay the concern to President Edgar Lungu who had the authority to create districts.
Mr Kapita also said the issue of some people masquerading as chiefs in Mufumbwe should be investigated and resolved by the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.
Mr Kapita is touring Kabompo, Manyinga, Mufumbwe and Kasempa districts on a familiarisation mission and inspecting development projects.
