FAKE CHIEF IN TROUBLE

… as President Lungu orders arrest

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed the police command in Eastern province to investigate and arrest an alleged fake traditional leader, chief Tindi who has been illegally giving away land in other legitimate chiefdoms he claimed were under his jurisdiction.

Traditional leaders in Eastern province had told the President that the named ‘fake’ chief, whose chiefdom was banished a long time ago had been giving away land with impunity.

This was when the Head of State paid a courtesy call on chiefs Nsefu, Jumbe, Kakumbi, Malama and Mkhanya at Chimfule Lodge in Mambwe district.

President Lungu said that he had not seen any chief by the name of Tindi on the original list of legitimate traditional leaders in the country and ordered for a probe after questioning the Provincial police commissioner, Luckson Sakala over the said chief.

“Who is this chief Tindi. I have not seen such a name on the list of traditional leaders. Please look into this matter and ensure that it is sorted out,” he said.

And the President also called on traditional leaders to embrace people from other tribal groupings in their areas and ensure that they benefited equally from opportunities.

This was after the traditional leaders, through their representative chief Jumbe expressed concern that locals where left out in the recent recruitment of game scouts.

After Eastern province minister, Makebi Zulu, explained that the issue was rectified and locals included, the President advised that recruitments should be all embracing regardless of the area they were being done.

President Lungu said that Zambians were one people and that there should be no room for nepotism.

He however emphasised that locals should not be excluded from recruitment exercises taking place in their areas.

Meanwhile, the President assured traditional leaders that government would soon start empowering them with vehicles to ease their movements.

“Yes, we have to look into this. Chiefs were last given vehicles during President Mwanawasa’s time. We will soon embark on an exercise of empowering you with vehicles,” he said.