President Edgar Lungu says he is taken aback by reports that some citizens are being kicked out from chiefdoms on pretext that they dont hail from there.Speaking when he met Chief Nkole of the Swaka speaking people in Kapiri Mposhi district, President Lungu said the trend is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue. He said every citizen is free to settle anywhere provided they ascribe to the norms and rules of the chiefdoms they choose to settle in. The Head of State said discriminating someone because they are not indigenous to particular chiefdom may lead to ethnic cleansing. “We have community leaders who should help us to bring people together.
We are all indigenous Zambians and we are one Zambia one nation. What I can tell you is that if you give us to settle in your Chiefdom we become your subjects and we should ascribe to the norms and rules of the chiefdom,” President Lungu said.”You have no right to kick them out because they don’t hail from here. The thing of saying this one is non indigenous is unacceptable. It will bring ethic cleansing and will not be allowed ,” He said.And President Lungu has assured chiefs that Government will continue to look into their affairs by providing the necessary support.
President Lungu also pledged to address the transport and accommodation challenge being faced by Chief Nkole.”I want to assure you that we care about your welfare so much that we even setup the ministry of chiefs and traditional affairs. I want to appeal to the Lalas, Swakas who come from here to come on board and supplement Government’s efforts in helping the chiefs, we say this because the responsibility of looking after the chiefs is not only for the State but sons and daughters who hail from here and the subjects who live in these areas including those that have come to settle here and have made it there home ,” The Head of State said.
Meanwhile, President said he is saddened by the unprecedented death of chiefs some of whom have succumbed to Covid-19. He said it is for this reason that chiefs should partner with Government in sensitizing citizens to adhere to Covid-19 health guidelines so that they are safe.
“We mourn with you on the passing on of your brothers. We have seen unprecedented deaths among our traditional leaders and never in the history of Zambia have we lost so many chiefs in a short period of time and indeed the Government is worried and we are mourning with you,” President Lungu said.”We know that some are succumbing to the dreaded Covid-19 disease which has hit this country and the globe at large. It is for this reason we have embarked on sensitization on the measures to prevent this disease. We would like to ask your royal highnesses to work with us in sensitizsing the communities so that they take measures to protect themselves because working together we can reduce the number of Covid – 19 cases,” He said. #SmartEagles2021.
