Fri, 09 Feb 2018 12:34:28 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
GOVERNMENT has urged traditional leaders to take a leading role in resolving succession wrangles rather than rushing to court as they were custodians of culture and traditional law.
And Vice President Inonge Wina has said there was need for the traditional leaders to engage the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs in resolving their differences.
Ms Wina said this yesterday in Rufunsa when the village headmen from Bundabunda Chiefdom called on her to engage government in resolving the succession wrangles in their chiefdom following the death of Chief Bundabunda, Patrick Chakashi, four years ago.
This was after senior headman Kenneth Chipungu speaking on behalf of other headmen asked Ms Wina to intervene in the succession wrangles that has characterised the chiefdom for over four years.
Senior headman Chipungu told the Vice president that the Chiefdom has for four years not installed a chief due to succession wrangles adding that the matter was taken to court to have it resolved.
And Ms Wina said it was President Edgar Lungu’s desire to see unity in all communities regardless of political affiliations.
She thanked the people of Rufunsa for remaining a shining example in terms of unity of purpose among politicians elected on different tickets.
Speaking at the same occasion, Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Lawrence Sichalwe explained that article 165 of the amended constitution does not allow government to interfere with the installation of traditional leaders.
Mr Sichalwe said there was nothing the Ministry could do as the matter was before in court.
“Besides, as a Ministry, our hands are tight in this matter because it is before the court of law. There is nothing we can do, we just have to wait for the court ruling,” Mr Sichalwe said.
