‘ABANDONED’ CHIEFS WANT MINISTRY BACK
By JULIET MUKWEMA
CHIEFS are considering to petition President Hakainde Hichilema to reconsider his decision to scrap the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs.
Former House of Chiefs chairperson, Chief Kaputa, said they would petition the President to reverse the decision because the ministry was important.
The full cabinet ministers’ list has already been concluded without the Chiefs and Traditional Affairs portfolio being included.
Chief Kaputa said traditional leaders had a general feeling that scrapping the ministry implied that office of chiefs had been demoted.
He said the affairs of chiefs need to be dealt with at ministerial level for issues that affected traditional leaders to get due attention.
Chief Kaputa said traditional leaders needed a stand-alone ministry because that way, they would have easier access to the President.